Benedictine Art Project

Norwich Cathedral’s beginnings as a Benedictine monastery continue to inspire life at the Cathedral in the 21st century, and a new open-air art exhibition will explore our Benedictine heritage past and present through a series of three specially commissioned installations.

From Sunday 17 May, visitors can enjoy discovering the works in three different areas of the Cathedral Close - the Cloister, outside the Hostry entrance, and Almary Green (near the Ethelbert Gate at the main entrance to the Cathedral Close).

The exhibition is free to explore and open to all.

Find out more about the three installations below.

The Cloak of St Martin – Hardy Gru

Located at Almary Green, the site of the monastic almonry which gave assistance to the poor.

This installation combines reminders of the Church of St Ethelbert which stood near this site and of the cloak of St Martin. He was a Roman soldier in the fourth century who, when confronted in Amiens by a naked beggar, gave him half of his cloak. In a subsequent dream, Jesus revealed himself to Martin as that beggar.

This work has been created in collaboration with St Martins Housing Trust, a Norwich-based charity which aims to help the homeless build a better life in Norwich and Norfolk.

The Hospitality of Abraham – Deborah Tompsett

Located outside the Hostry entrance, where guests to the monastery were welcomed.

Two old reclaimed wooden doors become a temporary tabletop inlaid with ceramic plates decorated with recipes and foods from across the world. The sculpture is a response to St Benedict’s instruction ‘Let all guests that come be received like Christ, for he will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25.35).

This work has been created in collaboration with English+, a Norwich-based charity which offers English language classes, community activities and practical support to those who are new to the city.

The Light Comes from All Sides - Lily Bunney

Located in the Cloister, a place of contemplative prayer and reading and writing in the mediaeval monastery.

Inspired by the contemplative atmosphere of the Cloister and its delicately carved roof bosses, this work features two small stained glass windows made of hand-strung beads within the frame of ancient book cupboards.

This work has been created in collaboration with children from St Nicholas Priory School, Great Yarmouth, and Walsingham CE VA Primary School.

Please note that the Cloister closes at 6pm every day but Almary Green and the area outside the Hostry are open in the evening.

The Benedictine Art Project has been designed to complement an exhibition taking place at the Sainsbury Centre which reflects on the enduring influence of St Benedict.

Living by the Rule: Contemporary Meets Medieval runs from May to October 2026 and the Cathedral is pleased to have loaned the Sainsbury Centre a number of objects from its collections for the exhibition.

The Dean and Chapter gratefully acknowledge the Farmington Institute, Oxford, for funding the Benedictine Art Project, and Norwich University of the Arts for their advice and support.