Luxmuralis at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields

As I approached the historic church of Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, I was greeted by a mesmerising display—vibrantly coloured  danced across the church’s stately exterior, inviting me to marvel anew at its grand architecture. Descending into the crypt, I found the ancient stonework awash with light and colour, the arched passageways, gravestones, and worn cobbles transformed beneath a tapestry of sound and image. Immersed in this spectacle, I wandered through the space, each step revealing a new perspective on the church’s historic fabric.

Upstairs, the journey continued. Within the sanctuary, an evocative soundtrack transported me to the era of the Apollo missions and my first memories of watching a rocket launch. The show conjured cosmic images—the drama of the Big Bang, the birth of the universe, and a breathtaking final shot of Earth, suspended against a swirling galaxy of stars. For a brief moment, I felt as though I was exploring the wonders of the universe, all from the heart of central London.

This immersive journey, running from 17th to 21st February, offers tickets from just £8—a perfect treat for a cold winter’s night. It’s genuinely affordable and something refreshingly different. While I’ve seen many projection shows, and most now feel ten-a-penny  and uninspiring, this installation by Luxmuralis stands out due to its thoughtful and site-specific approach. The unique character of Saint Martin’s, with its white spaces and understated Church of England aesthetic, lends itself beautifully to the interplay of projected images—possibly drawn from Hubble and other telescopes—seamlessly fitting the architecture.

Not every element resonated: I could have done without the rocket and astronaut footage, and especially the American voiceover, which felt oddly out of place in this sacred context. Yet, the music was haunting and moving, and I found myself watching the show twice—and considering a third viewing. The only drawback was the chatter of other attendees, which distracted from the experience; I ended up plugging my ears to focus on the music and soak in the atmosphere. While it wasn’t a religious service, the installation had a real spiritual quality, and it was a shame that some didn’t allow themselves to be fully present with it.

Peter Walker the artist and creator of Luxmuralis says that for him these video projections are “bringing to life the stories and concepts of our time in a way that stained glass did generations before [and] it is wonderful to play a part in the contemporary life of St Martin’s, bringing this new artform and adding it to these centuries of artistic and cultural history.”

While I don’t think that video projections will replace stained glass anytime soon. I do find them to be very beautiful in this particular context and it is quite a lovely experience.

I love this use of a church and I love to see churches being used in this way to bring people together. I think we’ve almost forgotten that actually the role of churches and temples throughout history was as a gathering place. They were the focus of community life, they brought people together; they were in many cases the only place people ever had the opportunity to see art!

Even in our largely secular and jaded society Churches could still play this role. Saint Martin in the Fields does a really good job with its concert series and its welcoming atmosphere but I would love to see more churches opening up to this possibility. Art is itself quite a spiritual thing and it certainly needs to be respected as such. I really love what Saint Martin in the Fields is doing now and I hope that they long continue.

All in all, Luxmuralis at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields is a thrilling, contemplative, and beautiful journey through space—and I highly recommend making the visit while you can.

*The music for the show was composed by David Harper and it is really quite sublime

Location: St Martin-In-The-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ

Nearest Tube: Charing Cross / Leicester Square 

What: A winter celebration of light like no other with the stunning immersive light and sound experience – Space by Luxmuralis at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Peter Walker, artist and creator of Luxmuralis 

Event Link: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whats-on/space-by-luxmuralis/