Hereford Cathedral will be opening its doors ‘after hours’ on Saturday 17 May, to give people the opportunity to experience a slightly different taste of cathedral life.
From 7-9 pm, visitors are welcome to drop in at any point to wander around the cathedral at their leisure and take part in the range of free activities on offer. For those wanting to find out more about the history and architecture of the building, the Cathedral Guides will be running special tours throughout the evening.
For one night only, entry to the Mappa Mundi & Chained Library will be free. Why not join the tour up to the Bellringing Chamber to meet the Cathedral Bellringers? There will also be an opportunity to immerse yourself in a gentle sound experience, performed by local choir Companion Voices, in the Lady Chapel from 7 pm – 8.30 pm.
New for this year, enjoy a spoken word poetry performed by local artist and poet ‘Rosie With Words’ from 7 pm – 8.30 pm. Some of the poems Rosie will be sharing, have been inspired by the cathedral. Meet the Cathedral Gardeners and the Broderers, volunteer groups who help to maintain the history and heritage of the cathedral.
Visitors are welcome to explore the cathedral independently using the range of guides and trails or spend time reflecting in the quiet and calm of the small chapels or the Crypt which will be candlelit for the evening. The Cathedral Café will be open throughout the event and serving a range of tasty treats and drinks alongside the Cathedral Shop.
From 8.30 pm Assistant Director of Music, Peter Dyke will take to the world-famous Father Willis organ to perform a selection of music before the evening draws to a close at 9 pm.
Jess Stallwood, Events Manager at Hereford Cathedral, said:“Cathedral at Night is one of our favourite events here at Hereford Cathedral. This relaxed evening is full of fun things to discover and a great opportunity to see what we can offer visitors. Whether you’ve visited us a hundred times before or walk past every day and have never come inside the building, a warm welcome awaits!”
Cathedral at Night will take place on Saturday 17 May from 7-9 pm. Entry is free and booking is not required for any of the events or activities taking place.
