Our Earth

Our Earth focused on the domestic impact of climate change, asking visitors to consider how everyday life might be affected and how those changes would be felt differently across the world. The works in the exhibition explored the air we breathe, the changing landscapes around us, the homes that keep us safe, the sounds we hear, and the ways the environment influences mental health.

The exhibition opened on World Earth Day, joining a global movement to raise awareness and appreciation of the environment, and closed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment, animals, and birds.

We all have a role to play in the long-term care of God’s creation and in acknowledging our contribution to the environmental crisis. Salisbury Cathedral aimed to set an example of best practice in environmental care by continuing good practices and seeking improvements wherever possible. In 2021, we became the first cathedral to receive the A Rocha Eco-Church Gold Award, a nationally recognised accolade for environmental work in churches. We remain committed to reducing our carbon footprint and caring for the diverse wildlife in and around our building.

The exhibition extended both inside and outside the Cathedral. It began with a major interactive outdoor commission by Hilary Jack, reflecting on homes displaced by coastal erosion, and a large-scale banner work by Dryden Goodwin, emphasising the importance of clean air.

In the cloisters, visitors encountered a new commission by Rebecca Chesney, featuring birdsong from four continents. Inside the Cathedral, powerful paintings by artist, filmmaker, and gay rights activist Derek Jarman celebrated the joy of the garden, while a multi-panel work by Ethiopian artist Elias Sime explored the connection between the earth and the digital world.

Curated by Beth Hughes.