Visit ‘Kiosk’, an art installation at Chester Cathedral
Inside Kiosk by Wolfgang Weileder, 2026
Kiosk at Chester Cathedral
Kiosk is a visually striking architectural sculpture by Wolfgang Weileder on display in the south transept of Chester Cathedral as part of the Cathedral's 2026 'Spirit of Summer' programme. This is the first time it has been seen in any cathedral setting. Both beautiful and imposing, it is striking because there is something unsettling about it too, something that disrupts the expectations and assumptions of most visitors, and not just the fact that the artist has deliberately set it slightly off-centre.
Wolfgang Weileder is an artist of international renown and currently Professor of Contemporary Sculpture at Newcastle University. He has reclaimed and repurposed pews from redundant Methodist churches in the northeast of England, complete with scuffs, stains and graffiti from years of use. Part of the challenge comes in seeing these pews reshaped in a design that incorporates the visual language not of traditional Christian iconography but of Islamic architecture with geometric patterns in the windows and a large green dome made of steel.
The final result is Kiosk, which is a Persian word for a garden pavilion, a place of contemplation, rest, prayer and encounter. Weileder invites us to think again about sacred space and what makes it sacred: the materials, the design, the location, or activity? Inside the structure many visitors comment on the evocative smell as they sit on the simple wooden chairs borrowed from a German Benedictine monastery.
"Living well with religious difference is much more art than science. It is deeply relational, requiring personal encounter, patience, humility and listening. Above all, it demands creativity and imagination. In a world where there is a woeful lack of religious literacy and a not unrelated rise in intolerance, prejudice and outright hostility towards religious difference, Wolfgang offers us an alternative that brings together the best of our differences with creativity and imagination to build Kiosk, a sanctuary and place to find rest and peace." (Canon Dr Anthony Lees-Smith, Canon Missioner)
"Kiosk is not just a sanctuary of peace, it is a living bridge between different faiths. It is a space where our differences and our similarities are not just tolerated but celebrated and showcased with pride. It reminds us that when we bring the best of our traditions together with creativity and imagination, we can build a place of peace and common ground for all humanity." (Zeba Salam, Chester Muslim Sisters Association)
Kiosk is open now to all visitors to Chester Cathedral until 31 August 2026. Entry is £5 during the summer period (voluntary donations on Sundays).
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