Art treasure tours in our cathedrals – What will you discover?

Hidden art treasures and often overlooked works of art will be revealed in a series of tours that aim to shine a spotlight on some of the modern and contemporary works of art in our cathedrals.

Art treasure tours in our cathedrals – What will you discover?

Starting this week in Winchester Cathedral, visitors will get up close to some of the many and varied works of art from the last century including Sound II by Antony Gormley altar frontals by Alice Kettle, Maggie Hambling and Sophie Hacker, a memorial to John Tavener by Angela Connor and Justin Knowles’ cross of cerulean glass.

The tour series by Art and Christianity is called Ecclesiart in Cathedrals and this year will explore Liverpool’s Anglican and Metropolitan cathedrals, Manchester Cathedral and Llandaff Cathedral from the Church in Wales.

Led by Laura Moffatt, the director of Art and Christianity, the tours are a director’s pick of unusual and often overlooked works of art in cathedrals and are based on the works found on the website, Ecclesiart, an online project that raises awareness of significant works of modern and contemporary art since 1920 in UK churches and cathedrals.

Laura said:

“Most tours in cathedrals focus – quite rightly– on their architecture and on their historic artefacts, but cathedrals are living buildings and the contributions of artists of recent generations comprise a treasure trove of delights.

“These specially curated tours will introduce visitors to some often overlooked works of art that represent the diversity of high-quality church commissions and reflect developments in artistic practice and ecclesiastical art and design. 

“We hope they inspire and challenge visitors to see cathedrals in a new light,” she added.

A member of the clergy will welcome the tours and there will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the role of modern art in cathedrals too.

Art and Christianity was set up in 1994 and is the UK’s leading expert on art in religious settings, working alongside churches, cathedrals and artists to curate exhibitions and installations.

Book Ecclesiart in Cathedrals tours here.

Photo Credit – Anthony Gormley, Dean and Chapter Winchester Cathedral