“Casting the Net Wide” by Wendy Williams
6th August – 17th September 2023 here at Christ Church
Viewing is free every Sunday after Morning Prayer (around 11.30) until 12.45. A community art installation to celebrate the culmination of a 12 month process to discern a future facing vision for the Diocese of Chester.
Alongside the grassroots consultation process, Wirral artist Wendy Williams was commissioned to create an artwork that would bring together people within the diocese. She worked with community groups in museums, galleries, churches and community galleries to make hundreds of hand-crafted three-dimensional fish from recycled materials. The installation was first exhibited in Chester Cathedral May 11th – 23rd 2023. Christ Church is excited to be the second venue to host the installation until Sept 17th.
“Casting the Net Wide” is based on the story of the miraculous catch of fish as told in the Gospel of Luke 5.1-11.
https://www.chester.anglican.org/news/casting-the-net-wide.php
Luke 5.1-11:
One day, as the crowds were pressing close to him to hear the word of God, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats moored by the land; the fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little way from the land. Then he sat down in the boat and began to teach the crowd. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deeper part, and let down your nets for a catch.’
Master,’ replied Simon, ‘we were working hard all night and caught nothing at all. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.’
When they did so, they caught such a huge number of fish that their nets began to break. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. So they came, and filled both the boats, and they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees.
‘Go away,’ he said. ‘Leave me, Lord! I’m a sinner!’
He and all his companions were gripped with amazement at the catch of fish they had taken; this included James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
‘Don’t be afraid,’ said Jesus to Simon. ‘From now on you’ll be catching people.’ They brought the boats in to land. Then they abandoned everything and followed him.