Tudors at the cathedral

During a fortnight of festivities we celebrated a whole variety of artforms from this era, while shining a light on how its history is woven throughout the fabric of the Cathedral to this day.

There was an atmospheric evening performance from early music ensemble L'Isola, while tours of the artwork and manuscripts in the Knightbridge Library were led by the Very Revd Dr Jessica Martin, Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral.

A dance workshop by the Gallyard Tudor Dancers saw guests learn routines from the time in the grand setting of the Cathedral Nave. At a Monday lunchtime concert, string musician Matthew Nisbet performed his Lute Music Books: A Renaissance Lute Recital as part of our hugely successful series of Lunchtime Concerts. On Friday evening, Musicologist Matthew Gouldstone took the opportunity to share his incredible knowledge of 16th century music-making with a Tudor-themed Keene Lecture. We also hosted two talks for the Essex Book Festival with acclaimed authors, Alison Weir and Edward Wilson-Lee who spoke about their new books, each set in Tudor times.

“As our season of Tudor-themed events comes to a close, we'd like to say a very big thank you to the talented artists who helped bring this historical era into the life of our cathedral today,” says Chief Operating Officer, Justine Horseman Sewell.

“We are hugely proud of our “Tudors at Chelmsford Cathedral” event programme. It has provided a wonderful opportunity to invite people in to see our beautiful cathedral building and celebrate its rich history. We are always very proud of our musical programmes here at the cathedral, and these events have seen our regular musicians, as well as some wonderful guest performers, sharing their favourite music from Tudor times.”