Hereford Cathedral have recently announced their latest Life & Learning programme which features a range of talks, lectures and discussions.
Life & Learning is the adult education arm of Hereford Cathedral which works to broaden understanding and debate in theology, social issues and the arts. It offers a wide range of opportunities for study and learning, and for experiencing the Christian faith in many aspects. Open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, it aims to be a forum for honesty and engagement.
In 2019, the tenth year of the Life & Learning programme, there is a diverse range of subject matter ranging from church records to children’s reactions to sacred spaces. Other highlights include two illustrated talks on twelfth-century French Religious Art led by Peter White (Thursday 21 & 28 February). These talks will look at both the sculpture and stained glass windows of the Romanesque cathedral of Chartres which was destroyed in a devastating fire in 1194.
The following month (Thursday 28 March), a celebration of Hereford Diocese’s link with the Lutheran Kirchenkreis of Nuremberg will take place in College Hall. The evening will feature speakers from the Nuremberg Committee who will discuss the many different links between the two cities, alongside German beer and sausages.
This year’s annual Ethelbert lecture, which takes place on Tuesday 21 May, is given by Professor Nicholas Vincent and explores the legacy of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri, the papal legate to England in 1216. Vincent is Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia and an authority on the Plantagenet kings and the context of Magna Carta.
One of the final events of the programme will take place on Tuesday 18 June and will focus on the hidden history of the Cathedral Cloisters. Recent research completed as part of the Eastern Cloisters Project (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) unearthed many discoveries of the people who have inhabited the residential area of the cathedral. Sarah Hollingdale, Eastern Cloisters Project Officer, will lead this talk sharing the stories of some of the more eccentric characters who have lived within the Cloisters.
The Life & Learning catalogue is available to pick up in the cathedral or download from the cathedral website at www.herefordcathedral.org/life-and-learning. Ticket prices vary and more information can be provided by the Cathedral Library on 01432 374225 or library@herefordcathedral.org.
