PENISTONE COMES TOGETHER FOR TWO-WEEK POPPIES WITH PURPOSE EXHIBITION

A historic Penistone church is set to be transformed by art, music and hundreds of handmade poppies this November as the community comes together for a special event combining creativity with remembrance.

Poppies With Purpose will take over St John the Baptist Church in Penistone from 2 to 14 November 2026, bringing together local artists, musicians, veterans, businesses and residents to raise money for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal and help support restoration of the church's historic 16th-century tower and clock.

The event, which forms part of the Penistone Arts Week fringe programme, has grown into much more than a traditional art exhibition.

Artists have been challenged to create work exploring what remembrance means to them, rather than simply producing traditional poppy-themed pieces.

That means visitors can expect a diverse and thought-provoking collection exploring war, service, sacrifice, peace and remembrance through the eyes of different creatives.

Artwork and handmade crafts will be displayed throughout the church, with participating creatives donating at least 30% of their proceeds, and some choosing to give even more.

THREE COLOURS, THREE MESSAGES

The exhibition will also look beyond the traditional red poppy.

Red poppies will represent remembrance.

White poppies will represent peace.

Purple poppies will remember the animals that have served and suffered alongside humans.

And it isn't only the artists getting involved.

Members of the public are making knitted and crafted poppies to help decorate the church, while shops and businesses around Penistone are being encouraged to dress their windows as part of a best-dressed shopfront competition.

SPECIAL OPENING EVENT

Poppies With Purpose will officially open on Monday 2 November, with a special event bringing together veterans, artists, invited guests, local representatives and members of the community.

Organisers hope it will provide an opportunity not only to remember and say thank you to those who have served, but also to celebrate what can happen when a community puts its creativity behind a good cause.

PROMS FOR POPPIES

Another major part of the programme comes on Friday 6 November, when St John's hosts Proms for Poppies.

Running from 6pm until 10pm, with doors opening at 5pm, the evening is being organised by Chris McShane and will feature a mix of performers bringing music, remembrance and community together under one roof.

Local author and co-organiser Chrissie Yates will also give a special reading from her book The Matriarch.

Tickets cost £12.50, with proceeds supporting the causes behind Poppies With Purpose. Wine, tea, coffee and cake will be available, alongside a raffle.

"THIS ISN'T JUST AN ART EXHIBITION"

One of the driving forces behind the event is organiser Joanne Molloy, who discovered the importance of creativity after becoming chronically ill.

She said:

"Art was my saviour, but it can be so much more than that. Art can be used to make a genuine difference.

"Art can make us stop, think, feel and connect - but it can also raise money, raise awareness and bring a community together.

"Poppies With Purpose is about taking all of that and putting it towards something meaningful.

"We wanted to create something that remembers and honours those who have served, supports the Poppy Appeal, helps our beautiful historic church, and gives local artists and performers an opportunity to use what they do to make a difference.

"What began as a seed of an idea to help support veterans who I believe have been let down by our society soon snowballed into this amazing event, and I've been truly humbled by the support of Penistone as a whole.

"This isn't just an art exhibition. It's a community coming together and saying that remembrance matters, peace matters, our heritage matters - and that creativity can make a difference."

Organisers hope the two-week event will attract everyone from veterans and families to regular gallery visitors and people who might never normally consider visiting an art exhibition.

At its heart, Poppies With Purpose is about something very simple - bringing people together.

2-14 November 2026 St John the Baptist Church, Penistone Art, crafts, remembrance and community events Proms for Poppies - Friday 6 November, 6pm-10pm Proms tickets: £12.50

More information: www.penistoneartsweek.com