2022 heralds the Platinum
Jubilee year for Her Majesty The Queen, marking 70 years of service to the
people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth.
St Paul’s will hold a historic Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen’s reign on
Friday 3rd June, part of a four-day UK bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd
to Sunday 5th June.
To mark this extraordinary and exciting occasion, St Paul’s announces a brand
new exhibition. Jubilee: St Paul’s, the Monarch and the Changing World explore
the history of Jubilee celebrations at St Paul’s Cathedral across three
centuries.
Opening on Wednesday 25th May
2022, the special exhibition at St Paul’s Cathedral examines the Jubilee
celebrations for King George III, King George V, Queen Victoria and the Silver,
Golden and Diamond Jubilees of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Using objects from St Paul’s
extensive Archive and Collections, the exhibition tells the stories of Jubilee
celebrations for each monarch, from the Golden Jubilee celebrations of George
III in 1809 to the most recent Jubilees for HM Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors
can see beautifully embroidered and ornate copes (or ceremonial cloaks) worn by
clergy during special services; scrapbooks collected by staff and volunteers
through the years, pictures and paintings from each memorable day and much
more.
One distinctive object on
display is the Jubilee Cope. Designed by Beryl Dean, the delicately embroidered
cloak depicts the spires of 73 churches in the Diocese of London, three Royal
Peculiars and St Paul’s Cathedral, realized in cream and pastel silks and
golden threads. Taking thousands of hours for skilled needle workers to
produce, the Jubilee Cope was presented to the Diocese of London to commemorate
the Silver Jubilee in 1977 and was first worn at the Service of Thanksgiving on 7
June 1977.
Exploring the theme of souvenirs, the exhibition also includes designs for
commemorative tea towels, designed by local school students in collaboration
with the St Paul’s Schools and Family Learning team. Over 90 Art and Design
students from schools in London borough of Tower Hamlets have designed tea towels,
exploring their family stories over the past 70 years, with a selection on
display as part of the exhibition.
Alongside the exhibition, there will be a special programme of events this year
including late-night openings in July and August. There will also be a
community outreach music project, ‘Choir for the Queen’, which sees St Paul’s
create dedicated learning resources to enable school children aged 4-15 from
across the UK and around the world to share a video singing their favourite
hymn as a musical gift for Her Majesty.
The Dean of St Paul’s, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison says “It is a great
honour to hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the Reign of Her Majesty The Queen
and to celebrate her 70 years of service to the UK and the Commonwealth.
“We are also delighted to open a brand new exhibition documenting previous
Jubilee celebrations across three centuries. From rich and beautiful textiles
to treasured photographs and scrapbooks, the story emerges from the excitement
and anticipation of each Jubilee celebration, and the unique role that St
Paul’s holds in ceremonial occasions. Along with our community outreach
programmes and late opening events, our Jubilee exhibition is a fitting way to
mark this special occasion.”
