Still time to enter Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival story writing competition for Abbey 1000 celebrations

There's still time to enter a short story competition as part of the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival and Abbey 1000 celebrations.

People of all ages can enter with stories, of no more than 500 words, which must be linked to the Abbey and its history.

Other than that, writers are limited only by their imagination.

Winning authors will receive a £50 book token and engraved trophy, and runners up a £20 token.

Their stories will also be published in the Bury Free Press

The competition is in three categories: for those aged 9-12; aged 13-17 and for those over 18.

The competition closing date is May 13.

In Medieval times, the Abbey of St Edmund was one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England.

People came from all over England and Europe to visit the Shrine of St Edmund and it became one of the most famous and wealthy pilgrimage locations in England, visited by royalty.

The town will celebrate the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund by King Canute 1000 years ago with a year of special events which started on St Edmund’s Day, Saturday

on November 20, last year, culminating on the Saint’s feast day in November 2022.

Julia Wakelam, from the Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival, which takes place this year on October 14 and 15, said: “The Abbey 1000 celebrations have made us all think more about the history of our town and its people.

“The Abbey has had such an influence on the way the town has developed from a place of pilgrimage to the vibrant place it now is.

"There are so many stories to be told about the Abbey and the townspeople who live and work here now and in the past.

"We look forward to reading all of the stories”

For further information about the competition click here