Benedictine heritage explored in new exhibition 

Norwich Cathedral’s beginnings as a Benedictine monastery continue to inspire life at the Cathedral in the 21st century, and a new open-air art exhibition explores the Cathedral’s Benedictine heritage past and present through a series of specially commissioned installations.

Three artists have teamed up with three local charities to create the artworks which reflect the Benedictine themes of healing and wholeness, hospitality and contemplative learning.
 
Called the Benedictine Art Project, the free exhibition in the Cathedral Close is open for all to explore and runs until Autumn 2026.
 
The Revd Dr Peter Doll, Norwich Cathedral’s Canon Librarian and Vice Dean, who has led the project, said: “Despite being some 1500 years old, the Rule of St Benedict continues to be a living document. Besides being the basis of the life of thousands of monastic communities around the world, it shapes the life and values of Norwich Cathedral, it has animated the ‘Living by the Rule’ exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre, and it has inspired the responses of artists, schoolchildren, charitable organisations and the varied communities they support, made visible in these three installations in the Cathedral Close. We hope that visitors will be similarly inspired by these interactions between the ancient and the contemporary.”
 
Visitors can enjoy discovering the works in three different areas of the Cathedral Close.
 
A large abstract recreation of the Church of St Ethelbert draped in the cloak of St Martin can be found in Almary Green, close to the Ethelbert Gate entrance to the Cathedral Close. Entitled the Cloak of St Martin, the work is a collaboration between artist Hardy Gru and local homelessness charity St Martins.
 
Outside the Hostry, visitors will see two old doors transformed into a tabletop covered with plates featuring recipes from around the world. The Hospitality of Abraham was the idea of artist Deborah Tompsett who has worked with English+, a Norwich-based charity helping those who are starting new lives in the city.
 
Completing the trio of works is The Light Comes from All Sides, an installation in the Cloister which has been created by artist Lily Bunney and Diocese of Norwich schools. Here ancient book cupboards, once used by the Benedictine monks, have been decorated with stained glass inspired by the Cloister and the medieval roof bosses which adorn the ancient architecture.
 
The Benedictine Art Project has been designed to complement an exhibition taking place at the Sainsbury Centre which reflects on the enduring influence of St Benedict.
 
Living by the Rule: Contemporary Meets Medieval runs from May to October 2026 and the Cathedral is pleased to have loaned the Sainsbury Centre a number of objects from its collections for the exhibition.
 
Norwich Cathedral is also hosting a special series of Benedictine lectures throughout June to September 2026, looking at everything from Benedictine book-culture to missionary monks and business with Benedict.
 
The Dean and Chapter gratefully acknowledge the Farmington Institute, Oxford, for funding the Benedictine Art Project, and Norwich University of the Arts for their advice and support.
 
The Benedictine Art Project runs from Sunday 17 May until Sunday 4 October 2026 in Norwich Cathedral Close.
 
The exhibition is free and open to all. Please note that the Cloister closes at 6pm every day but Almary Green and the area outside the Hostry are open in the evening.
 
For the full details of Norwich Cathedral’s Benedictine Art Project and series of Benedictine lectures, visit www.cathedral.org.uk/benedictine

Pictured above: The Cloak of St Martin