Poppies and Crosses: The War Painting of Stanley Spencer - Free, Lunchtime talk by Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford.

No English person can look at a poppy without thinking of the First World War. Sir Stanley Spencer, as well as being one of the most important English painters of the 20th century, also served as a stretcher bearer and fought as a soldier in the Berkshire Rifles during the Salonika campaign of the First World War. Returning home he was commissioned to paint the murals for what is now the Sandham Memorial Chapel, an astonishing tribute to the men who gave their lives in the Great War, and a first taste of his extraordinary vision that even in the midst of war we can see heaven. This talk will look at some of these paintings, including ‘Poppies ’ ,exhibited in St Paul’s Cathedral from July 1st, and explore the spiritual vision of one of England’s greatest artists.

Stephen Cottrell is the Bishop of Chelmsford. He has written widely about spirituality, catechesis and evangelism, including the book Christ in the Wilderness, Reflecting on the paintings by Stanley Spencer.

The talk will be held in the Wren Suite in the Cathedral Crypt, entry via the door on the north side of the building.

The talk is free but places are limited and must be booked in advance.

The talk is open to all and wheelchair access is availble via a lift from the south churchyard

This talk series is organised by the Cathedral Collections Department. Each speaker takes an item in The Collections or an aspect of the Cathedral's history as a starting point from which to explore the life and work of St Paul's. The Cathedral Collections: Library, Archive and Objects form a unique record of the spiritual, liturgical, architectural, administrative and social life of one of the world's outstanding buildings and its imposing predecessor, the Pre-Fire Cathedral.