Who's Your Rock?

Created by over 1,500 children and young people from across Brighton & Hove, the striking installation marks the 200th anniversary of the laying of St Peter’s foundation stone.

The installation is a community engagement project inviting people to reflect, celebrate and remember these key figures in their lives. They are invited to respond with their own piece of art. These individual pieces have come together in a grand suspended display within St Peter’s, echoing the unity and resilience of our city.

Inspired by Brighton’s famous Brighton Rock, the project encourages the local community to consider who represents their personal “rock”— those who support and uplift them through life’s challenges. It invites visitors to reflect on, celebrate, and remember the people who have been their source of strength and support.

The individual artworks have been made by children across the city from schools, churches, and other groups during workshops over the past year. These have been brought together to form an impressive grand suspended display inside St Peter’s Church — an awe-inspiring visual representation of unity, resilience, and gratitude.

The art installation will also celebrate the church’s rich heritage and the stunning Chancel ceiling, a masterpiece that was redecorated in 1966 and remains in excellent condition today. Visitors entering the church naturally look up in awe at the ceiling, and this installation aims to highlight its beauty while drawing deeper meaning from the name “Peter,” which means “rock” or “stone.”

St Peter, a key figure in Jesus’ life, is often symbolically linked to rocks, as seen in Matthew 16:13-20: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.” This symbolism of strength and foundation ties into the installation’s central theme—offering hope and gratitude in challenging times. The past few years have tested many, from the pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis and global conflicts. In difficult moments, we rely on the “rocks” in our lives—those who support and ground us. For Christians, this may be Jesus or God; for others, it is family, friends, or mentors who have provided stability.

Want to help ‘host the city’? We’ll need a solid team to help deliver this exhibition and so if you are interested in volunteering as a host for our event, please fill out the following volunteer sign-up form.