25,000 poppies to cascade down church to mark Armistice anniversary

About 25,000 poppies, attached to lightweight but strong garden netting, will cascade down the walls of All Saints' Church in Pavement after being knitted, crocheted and cut out of felt by people all over the country.

Many have been created by relatives of those who died in the war and other conflicts, and a display inside the church will feature cards written by relatives explaining who they have lost.

The year-long project to create the spectacular art installation is being organised by priest-in-charge Jane Nattrass, who says many of the poppies have been made by members of York Inner Wheel, Foxycrafts at Foxwood Community Centre and members of churches across York and across the country.

“There are now around 25,000 poppies to cover the church and more are still arriving,” she said. “It has been an amazing response.”

She said poppies would be attached to netting from 11.15am to 3pm on October 4, with John and Linda Lacy from the Inner Wheel and Rotary offering to make teas and coffees.

The installation would then go up on November 3 and, at 6.30pm on Sunday, November 4, Evensong would mark the start of the Poppy Project, with people who have made the poppies invited to attend.

They would stay up until November 19, with a Remembrance Sunday service being held at the church at 10.30am on Sunday, November 11.

After coming down from the church, the poppies will be draped over a steam loco at the National Railway Museum later in November.

A museum spokesman said the loco would be one which was used to ferry troops during the First World War, and photos of York railwaymen who died in the conflict would be on display near the poppy installation.

The church installation is being funded by remaining money in The Press’ City of York Afghanistan Commemorative Appeal, which created a stained glass window at the church to commemorate those who served in Afghanistan, including three servicemen who were killed.