St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds to host torchlight tours and art exhibition at night

Visitors will get the chance to explore a historic Suffolk cathedral at night on Friday, October 21.

From 6.30pm to 9.00pm, St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, will be open, free of charge, for visitors of all ages to explore the building and specifically, the creative and artistic inspiration that permeates the building.

There will be the opportunity to join torchlight tours from knowledgeable guides highlighting the artwork and architecture of the cathedral, or to follow an art trail to discover new treasures.

Activities will be available and those who are feeling artistic can contribute to an art project that will be displayed following the event.

There will be LEGO activities to hand and a chance to sit on the Bishops’ Chair for a photo, with mulled wine, hot chocolate and cookie treats on offer too.

Musical interludes will entertain throughout the evening and the event will conclude with Compline at 8.30pm, a special service lasting about twenty minutes. This service used to be sung by monks in the Abbey of St Edmund.

Clint Rose, a woodcarver, will be working on a small carving, depicting Edmund and the Wolf for the benefit of St Edmund’s Catholic Church, in Bury St Edmunds.

There will also be an embroidery of the cathedral on display, which was stitched by members of STARS - Stitch and Textile Art in Suffolk.

A photograph of the cathedral was taken and developed as a 35" x25" photograph that was divided into 5" squares and then the squares were distributed to the members, who stitched their piece in their own style. When they were all finished it was re-assembled.

Suffolk Art Society Art Exhibition will also begin the same evening in the south aisle, which will continue until October 29.

Sarah Friswell, Visitor Experience Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be holding another Cathedrals at Night event.

"By opening the doors a little later than usual, we hope to welcome both new visitors and people who know the space but want to see it in a new (lower) light.

"Our creativity theme also gives us the opportunity to showcase some of our beautiful works of art.”