EXHIBITION: Re-Making Maps of the Mind: Medieval and Modern Journeys
has moved to St Mary’s Priory Church, Abergavenny
Wed 15th August – Monday 3rd September
The St Thomas Way exhibition has taken its first step on the trail and moved from Hereford Cathedral to St Mary’s Priory in Abergavenny. It’s crossed the border into Wales and The Map of Mundi is now literally hanging from the fantastic bell tower which is infamous for its ring of 10 bells. This piece, hanging above the main altar in the centre of the priory can now be viewed from all directions and has light streaming through it at certain times of the day. Thank you to Father Mark for suggesting hanging it this way – and to Father Tom for patiently threading metres of string through the two tiny holes in the ceiling! It looks quite spectacular!
View the gallery of the installation here: St Mary’s Priory Gallery
The exhibition continues in the Priory’s Chapel, which is full of light and in total contrast to how it was installed in the dark crypt of Hereford Cathedral. In fact it looks so different here in the light that I’ve rewritten the leaflet that accompanies the exhibition. We continued to keep Measuring to the Saint, but measuring the wonderful effigies of those lying in the chapel with string, just like everyone else, and saying a prayer for them. So there are more spirals and lengths of string in this stop on the St Thomas Way. You can read more here in the guide: Mini-Pilgrimage.
Abergavenny is well worth visiting if you’re near South Wales over the coming weeks – there’s the St Thomas Way Abergavenny walking tour (1 hour) which highlights the medieval aspects of the town.
The exhibition in St Marys Priory is open throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and the first weekend in September, then it moves to St Mary’s in Swansea in time for the International Festival…
Thanks to everyone at St Marys Priory, especially Father Mark and Father Tom, for all their enthusiasm and warm welcome on the trail.
