In this special online event, speakers from Westminster Abbey, London, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, jointly reflect on the significance and impact of a Poets' Corner within a place of worship.

The tradition of commemorating departed literary figures in the South Transept of Westminster Abbey developed over centuries, creating an internationally renowned site to remember those who contributed to British culture. In 1983, inspired by the Abbey, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the United States of America set up a Poets’ Corner of its own to commemorate contributions to America’s literary heritage.

The Deans of Westminster Abbey and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine will discuss the very different processes by which their memorial sites have developed. In conjunction with St. John the Divine’s Poet in Residence Marie Howe, they will reflect on the significance of memorialising creative people within a place of Christian worship and consider the valuable place of poetry in our cultural life. This event will be chaired by The Very Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Canon Theologian at Westminster Abbey.