Westminster Abbey honours Charles Dickens anniversary

Screenshot of installation

Source: Westminster Abbey

The life and work of one of the nation's greatest authors, Charles Dickens, was celebrated on Tuesday, with a private wreath laying behind closed doors and the release of a stunning new film of a sound and light installation projected onto the Abbey's iconic West Towers over the weekend.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, lay a wreath and said prayers at the writer's grave in the Abbey's South Transept. Because of coronavirus safety measures, the Dickens Fellowship and descendants of the author could not attend.

The projection on the Abbey's West Towers, created by light and sound specialists, Luxmuralis, in collaboration with the Charles Dickens Museum, took place on Saturday evening. A three-minute film of the work has now been released online for Dickens fans worldwide to enjoy.

It features illustrations, quotes and a new colourised photograph of the author taken from the exhibition 'Technicolour Dickens: The Living Image of Charles Dickens' which will launch at the Charles Dickens Museum as soon as it is able to re-open.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle said: "We are so pleased that we have been able to honour the life and work of Charles Dickens despite the impact that the coronavirus is having on churches like the Abbey, and visitor attractions like the Charles Dickens Museum. Our thanks to Luxmuralis for creating such a wonderful tribute to a writer who 150 years after his death remains such an important part of the nation's cultural heritage."

Luxmuralis are an artistic collaboration who create large scale fine art sound and light installations. Their work has been displayed on some of the country's most important buildings, including many cathedrals. They are sculptor Peter Walker and composer David Harper.

Artistic Director of Luxmuralis, Peter Walker said: "It is a privilege to work with the Charles Dickens Museum and Westminster Abbey on this important anniversary. Dickens left behind a remarkable catalogue of works that have inspired artists for generations and when looking over his work it was fascinating to see how human emotions expressed over 150 years ago resonate so clearly with the situation we face today."

Director of the Charles Dickens Museum, Cindy Sughrue, said: "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Luxmuralis and Westminster Abbey to bring together such a rich array of imagery to celebrate the life and work of Charles Dickens - as bold and bright as the man himself - and to set it against the iconic backdrop of the Abbey."

See the installation here: www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=159&v=dDVk-bCUwf4&feature=emb_logo