St Albans Cathedral will be filled with poppies later this year to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The light and sound installation will project poppies onto the nave of the Cathedral for two nights on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27, from 7.30pm to 11pm, to mark 100 years since the war ended. The Cathedral will be open after dark for anyone who wants to view the poppies and remember those who served in World War One and any other conflict.

The installation was created by Peter Walker, the artistic director at Lichfield Cathedral, and will feature projections specifically tailored towards St Albans - including the names of local soldiers who served in the armed forces and falling rose petals which will be projected over the shrine of St Alban.

A sound artwork will accompany the installation, composed by David Harper, and includes four readings of World War One poems by Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne.

Peter Walker said: “Art in its many forms allows us to individually and collectively experience and share emotive moments. One hundred years on from the end of World War One, Poppy Field is an opportunity to become immersed in sound and light and truly reflect and focus our thoughts.

“We are delighted to bring this installation to St Albans Cathedral and look forward to welcoming everyone to experience the Cathedral seen in a new way.”

The installation is part of a programme of ‘St Albans Remembers’ events, which will take place across the city to commemorate the First World War. These will include war memorial tours and exhibitions, in addition to remembrance day commemorations in November. Later in the year, residents will be able to submit the names of local people who served in any conflict to be projected inside the Cathedral.

The Dean of St Albans Cathedral, Jeffrey John, said: “The Cathedral is an appropriate place to remember, and like Alban’s red rose, the poppies recall both the beauty and the blood of martyrdom.

“At the centenary of the close of the Great War, it is a powerful way to offer sorrow and thanks for the past and continuing self-sacrifice of so many for the sake of their fellow human beings.”