The event on Thursday, October 16, will feature the unveiling of a new memorial statue of the beloved novelist. The statue, made by artist Martin Jennings, will be revealed after the service by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire in the cathedral's Inner Close at around 3pm. Esteemed cultural historian, Professor Michael Wheeler, will also delve into Jane Austen’s enduring influence, and there will be new tributes to Austen’s literary accomplishments from hymn writer Rosalind Brown. Martin Jennings, creator of the statue, is famed for his recent portrait of King Charles for the Royal Mint. He has recently been chosen to create a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II for the UK’s national memorial at St James’s Park.