Cathedrals at Night Twilight Talks

St Edmundsbury Cathedral will host Cathedrals at Night: Twilight Talks this winter. The talks will cover specialist subjects relating to the Cathedral building and its secrets. Tickets include a one-hour talk, refreshments and a short tour of the Cathedral in the context of the twilight talk subject matter.

The sessions start on Thursday 26 October with the Reverend Tony Redman who will speak on the stones of Bury St Edmunds focusing on Gods Square. Revd Tony Redman MA FRICS was surveyor of the fabric at St Edmundsbury Cathedral for 25 years from 1991 to 2016. He is currently writing a book on the building stones of Suffolk and is the author of a GeoSuffolk leaflet on the building stones, in what historian John Betjeman referred to as “Gods Square” in Bury St Edmunds. His talk will focus on the use and history surrounding some of the building stones used in this part of the town and beyond, based on recent research.

The second talk will be on Thursday 9 November with Horry Parsons who will share information on the building of the Cathedral’s Millennium Tower. Horry was the project manager of the Millennium Tower Project in the early 2000s. Horry’s talk will begin by answering the question; why didn’t the Cathedral have a tower before this millennium? It will continue into how the company he worked for won the contract and built the tower. There’s plenty of anecdotes and Suffolk humour included.

The final Twilight Talk will be on Thursday 30 November and is from Alison Dickens BA MCIfA. Alison is St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s archaeologist. Alison will talk about what being a cathedral archaeologist entails, looking at the legal setting, responsibilities and how the archaeology of the Cathedral Precinct sits within the broader context of the historic Abbey of St Edmund. Alison Dickens BA MCIfA is the Director of Granta Heritage Ltd. and has been a professional archaeologist in the region for over 30 years. She was appointed as the Archaeologist at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral in 2020.

Visitor Experience Manager, Sarah Friswell, says of the talks, “The Twilight Talks are a great way for the local community to learn more about a building that is at the heart of Bury St Edmunds. Our knowledgeable speakers will allow you to peer behind the everyday and really dig into some fascinating stories about the Cathedral.”

Cathedrals at Night is a national initiative from English Cathedrals which invites visitors to see our historic sacred spaces in a new light. All ages can immerse themselves in the culture and spirituality of beautiful buildings and enjoy a taste of cathedral life.

Tickets for Cathedrals at Night: Twilight Talks are just £10.00 per person and include the talk, refreshments and a tour. Book online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cathedrals-at-night-twilight-talks-tickets-713557388357