The Christian Arts Trust was delighted to support Watershed: A River’s Call to Action, an ambitious Cross Arts Projects (XAP) exhibition hosted at St Albans Cathedral in May 2025.
Bringing together sculpture, film and poetry, the installation shone a prophetic light on the beauty and fragility of our rivers—especially the chalk stream River Ver, threatened by sewage and neglect.
Over 31 days, visitors encountered Angela Mellen’s willow sculpture turbulence, Laura Dekker’s immersive film installation As a machine that would never break, and Liz Sergeant’s visual poetry cycle Urgent Voices.
A rich programme of events, from litter picks to family workshops, extended the project’s reach into the community.
Visitor responses were striking: “Stunning, simple, soulful. A real measure of what our chalk streams face today.” Another wrote, “Brilliant display… I am more aware about the world around me now.”
Others described it as “transformative” and “an inspirational reminder of the place of rivers in our lives.”
The exhibition built bridges between Christian faith, art and action, encouraging spiritual reflection and wider public engagement. With plans now underway to tour Watershed to other cathedrals and river sites, its impact looks set to grow even further.
