Salisbury 2020: City on the Move
A year-long programme of events and activities marking the 800th anniversary of the laying of Salisbury Cathedral’s first foundation stone and the development of Salisbury has been announced.
Original photo by Ash Mills
Salisbury 2020: a City on the Move, is being organised jointly by Salisbury Cathedral with Salisbury BID, Salisbury City Council, Wiltshire Creative, Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Partnership, and Visit Wiltshire.
Local organisations, business and community groups can get involved and contribute their own events and activities to the evolving programme.
The story behind the anniversary begins in the early 1220s when Bishop Richard Poore, the medieval Bishop of Salisbury moved the Cathedral and its community from Old Sarum to its present site.
Driven by the need to access fresh water, and desperate to escape bad weather, royal supervision, and regular harassment by soldiers stationed at Old Sarum Castle, his actions changed the community and landscape of South Wiltshire forever.
By April 1220 the foundation stones for what was to become an iconic national landmark were laid and the expansion of a city we know and love began.
The anniversary programme is themed around movement with three ‘pillars’ or key areas of activity:
• Events that offer opportunities to take part in physical activities, echoing the strength and endeavour required to build a new cathedral
• Technological activities and events that celebrate the ingenuity of our forebears and offer ways to discover the latest in technology and science
• Activities and events that explore developments in thought and ideas across the last eight centuries
The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury said:
"Salisbury 2020 was conceived over three years ago, but the key partnerships were forged in a time of adversity in 2018, when the city of Salisbury was called upon to show its resolve and prove its determination to move ahead with optimism, much like our forebears when they made their epochal move.
"To reflect this extraordinary spirit and vision we have an exciting programme of activities planned for Salisbury 2020 with music, worship, art and a flower festival, and we begin our celebrations in February with a light and sound spectacular inspired by the Cathedral’s history."
Anyone wishing to receive information about how to get involved with Salisbury 2020 can sign up here.
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