Cathedral To Continue Going Blue On Thursday Evenings For The NHS

Published on: 21 Apr, 2020
Updated on: 22 Apr, 2020

Guildford Cathedral will continue to be lit blue on Thursday evenings in support of the NHS.

The landmark building, high on Stag Hill and visible for miles around, is illuminated in blue, the colour of the NHS, to salute the efforts of healthcare workers in the fight against the coronavirus.

Guildford Cathedral lit up in blue in support of the NHS during the Coronavirus. Picture by Ray Slack.

Other UK landmarks including the London Eye, the Royal Albert Hall, the Shard and Wembley Stadium in the capital, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and Lincoln Cathedral are also going blue.

The Dean of Guildford Cathedral, the Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams, said: “Our cathedral was lit up in blue light on Thursday as our nation marked our gratitude to them, and we will continue ‘blue on Thursdays’ until we celebrate walking into the future.

“The Seasons Café and Restaurant has opened the kitchens at the cathedral in order to prepare food for staff at the Royal Surrey County Hospital so that they can pick up fresh meals to take home at the end of their shift. All the food is being provided through crowdfunding – so thank you to everyone who is making this possible.”

The idea to turn the building blue came from the Surrey Drive team who are also running a project to provide food for NHS workers. Peachy Productions (London) Ltd is using its skills and providing the lighting equipment free of charge.

The cathedral building itself has been closed since March 17 but services are being conducted from clergy’s homes and can be accessed via the cathedral website and Facebook page.

Cathedral staff have been working from home since March 19 with the exception of the vergers who continue to look after safety and security on the site.

Two-thirds of the staff have now been furloughed and the cathedral will be applying for assistance from the government’s job retention scheme.