Holy Trinity Church, Pelton, has unveiled a striking new art installation of origami doves - each one carrying a handwritten prayer from local schoolchildren, congregation members and visitors.
The project, led by the Revd Simon Spencer, Curate of Pelton and West Pelton, involved pupils from Pelton Community Primary, Beamish Primary, Ouston Primary and Roseberry Primary schools. During school assemblies and smaller workshops, Simon guided the children in writing a prayer before folding it into the shape of a dove - an activity that proved both creative and contemplative.
Over the course of the year, these paper doves were gathered together and are now suspended within the chancel at Holy Trinity Church. The installation has already been enjoyed during the church’s All Souls service and will remain on display until just after Christmas. The doves create a peaceful, reflective atmosphere, offering visitors a visual representation of collective prayer and hope.
Inspired by the acclaimed dove installation at Durham Cathedral, this local version invites everyone to pause and reflect on the nature of prayer.
“Going into the schools always brings me great joy,” said the Revd Simon Spencer, who usually visits schools as part of an ‘Open the Book’ team. “Many of the children really struggled with the folding - but that was part of the point. Praying can be difficult but that doesn’t make it less valuable. As we all wrestled with the paper to create something unique and personal but full of flaws, it reminded us that our prayers need not be perfect to be perfectly received by God.”
Simon hopes that those who have enjoyed the fun and challenge of creating the origami prayer doves will be reminded that their prayers are never alone.
“Together, our prayers create something far more perfect and beautiful than what we might believe when we only look upon our own creased and ill-formed prayers.”
Each of the schools involved will be invited to visit the installation over the coming weeks and members of the public are warmly invited too. Those wishing to view the doves can attend a Sunday morning service at 9:30am or contact the Revd Simon Spencer directly to arrange a suitable visiting time.