Over 25,000 handcrafted poppies have been made by volunteers for an installation artwork planned for All Saints' Church, Pavement, York, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armistice at the end of the First World War, from the 3rd to the 19th November 2018.
The poppies have come from church members, the Trefoil Guild, York Inner Wheel and Rotary Members, the Foxy Craft group at Foxwood Community Centre, a GPs' patient group in Liverpool, a woman who met someone on a Mediterranean Cruise and a variety of other sources.
The response has been overwhelming, with some poppies made in memory of family members who died not only in WW1, but in some cases in the Flu pandemic of 1918.
While the poppies are on display outside the church, stories of some of those they commemorate will be displayed inside.
Although some stories do not have a direct link to the anniversary of the Great War, the project has given people an outlet to express their personal and moving stories.
One woman made poppies as she sat at her dying husband’s bedside; a group of patients from a Liverpool GPs' surgery benefited from being together to make poppies; community spirit has been strengthened when groups have joined in; individuals have spoken of the cathartic effect of having something to do for a greater cause.
Jane Nattrass, Priest in Charge of All Saints' Pavement said, "It has been a surprise to see how much difference making just one poppy can bring. God is in the surprises and shocks of our lives, through His grace may we all know healing and strength to bear our weakness in whatever form that may be."
- The church will be open on Thursday, 4th October from 11.00am to 3.00pm to allow people to come and attach the poppies to the netting on the church. All are welcome to join in.
- After the 19th November the poppies will be draped over a WW1 period steam locomotive at the National Railway Museum in York.