Events: Events

‘Threads through Creation’ is a spectacular sequence of twelve huge textile panels. It’s an exuberant retelling of the creation story in the book of Genesis, a retelling which many visitors will find both moving and breathtaking. Viewers are treated to a wonderful variety of colours, shapes, patterns – and of course lots of creatures! – in a vibrant combination of layers of silk, hand-dyed materials, metallic leathers and gold leaf, miles of thread—and more than eight million stitches!

The panels are huge—1.5m (8ft) high by as much as 4m (13ft) wide— and vary in appearance from elemental pieces illustrating the first ‘days’ to highly complex and lush work as we enter the Garden of Eden.

The work is eye-catching and attractive, designed to be accessible for viewers of all ages. Whilst the serious message of God’s good earth and man’s impact on it underlies the entire exhibition, the panels are bold and exuberant, with many delightful quirky details such as both accurate and fanciful creatures embroidered into the stories.

The exhibition is one of the largest textile projects by a single artist, ever. It has taken Jacqui Parkinson nearly three years. It follows on from ‘Threads through Revelation’, her first huge exhibition which visited 14 cathedrals from 2016 to 2018, and was seen by more than 500,000 visitors.

An extensive tour of cathedrals is being planned from 2021 to 2024 and will be in Sherborne Abbey from Thursday 29 August 2024 until Sunday 6 October 2024.  Admission is free but donations to the upkeep and maintenance of the Abbey are very welcome.

Do see the website below to download a free pdf for school teachers and one for those who love to stitch!  www.jacqui-textile.com

For school group bookings, please request a booking form from Sue Lee:  sue.lee@sherborneabbey.com

Sherborne Abbey is taking part in the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week (Heritage Open Days) from Friday 6 September to Sunday 15 September 2024.

We are offering free guided tours of the Abbey on the following dates/times:

Saturday 7 September 2024 at 10.30 am; Tuesday 10 September 2024 at 10.30 am; Wednesday 11 September 2024 at 2.00 pm; Thursday 12 September 2024 at 10.30 am; Friday 13 September 2024 at 2.00 pm.

If you would like to join one of these tours, just turn up!  Our guide will be waiting for you in the porch and tours take approximately 45 minutes to an hour.  There is no charge for tours (but donations are always welcome!).

For further information about the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week please see: https://www.edht.org.uk/dahw/

Mondays in The Abbey at 1.30 pm.

On Monday 9 September 2024 by Simon Clarkson, Yeovil.

(free entry, retiring collection, all welcome)

James Henderson, Director of Music

FRIENDS’ OUTING TO WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL

Tuesday 10 September 2024

Discover one of the finest medieval cathedrals in Europe.  With a captivating history and magnificent architecture, Winchester Cathedral has been a living place of worship and welcome for over 900 years.

The coach will arrive in Winchester late morning giving you some time to have a wander, do a bit of shopping and get some lunch. Our tour of Winchester Cathedral is at 2.00 pm, followed by an afternoon tea and we shall then attend Evensong at 5.30 pm. (The coach will leave Culverhayes car park, Sherborne at 9.30 am and leave Winchester by 6.45 pm latest.)

All this for a fantastic cost of only £35.00 each! (Price includes coach travel, cathedral tour and afternoon tea.)  We look forward to you joining us.

Please book your place by 23 August 2024.

More details and booking form from the Parish Office or email Joanna.Sams@sherborneabbey.com.

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Not a prayer group; just an opportunity to share ½ hour’s silence & meditation with fellow Christians and let God speak to us.

The meetings are ecumenical & are very refreshing – why not give it a try?

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month in the Lady Chapel, Sherborne Abbey from 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm.

Shirley Fry (01935 389124)

Mondays in The Abbey at 1.30 pm.

On Monday 16 September 2024 by Peter Bray, Assistant Organist, Sherborne Abbey

(free entry, retiring collection, all welcome)

James Henderson, Director of Music

Charity Concert by the RAF Regiment Band in aid of Yeatman Hospital, Dementia UK and the RAF Benevolent Fund in Sherborne Abbey.

Enjoy a varied concert of traditional, modern, film, classical, show, and military music. Join us for a night of incredible music and entertainment. The talented musicians of the RAF Regiment Band will showcase their skills in our beautiful Abbey.

On Saturday 21 September 2024 from 6.00 pm until 9.00 pm.

Tickets: £25.00 (includes refreshments at interval) available from:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-raf-regiment-band-charity-concert-tickets-946093921387?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete&_gl=1*19bgkmb*_up*MQ..*_ga*Mzk5MTI2MTg1LjE3MjE5OTExNzE.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTcyMTk5MTE3MS4xLjAuMTcyMTk5MTE3MS4wLjAuMA..&gclid=06278078cc421952a8cae6db4c424049&gclsrc=3p.ds

Mondays in The Abbey at 1.30 pm.

On Monday 23 September 2024 by Guy Hepher, Organ Scholar, Durham.

(free entry, retiring collection, all welcome)

James Henderson, Director of Music

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Mothers’ Union is a global Christian movement working with people of all faiths and none to develop communities, strengthen families and advocate for change. Our members are active in 83 countries and work tirelessly to serve their communities to build a future where everyone thrives. Ending violence, ending poverty, ending injustice. We are a truly worldwide Christian movement.

The Sherborne Branch meets on the 4^th Friday of each month in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall at 10.00 am for 10.30 am start.

All welcome!

MU Secretary: Jo Higgs

For further information please email: musecretary@sherborneabbey.com

Mondays in The Abbey at 1.30 pm.

On Monday 30 September 2024 by Paul Ellis, Organist Emeritus.

(free entry, retiring collection, all welcome)

James Henderson, Director of Music

‘Threads through Creation’ is a spectacular sequence of twelve huge textile panels. It’s an exuberant retelling of the creation story in the book of Genesis, a retelling which many visitors will find both moving and breathtaking. Viewers are treated to a wonderful variety of colours, shapes, patterns – and of course lots of creatures! – in a vibrant combination of layers of silk, hand-dyed materials, metallic leathers and gold leaf, miles of thread—and more than eight million stitches!

The panels are huge—1.5m (8ft) high by as much as 4m (13ft) wide— and vary in appearance from elemental pieces illustrating the first ‘days’ to highly complex and lush work as we enter the Garden of Eden.

The work is eye-catching and attractive, designed to be accessible for viewers of all ages. Whilst the serious message of God’s good earth and man’s impact on it underlies the entire exhibition, the panels are bold and exuberant, with many delightful quirky details such as both accurate and fanciful creatures embroidered into the stories.

The exhibition is one of the largest textile projects by a single artist, ever. It has taken Jacqui Parkinson nearly three years. It follows on from ‘Threads through Revelation’, her first huge exhibition which visited 14 cathedrals from 2016 to 2018, and was seen by more than 500,000 visitors.

An extensive tour of cathedrals is being planned from 2021 to 2024 and will be in Sherborne Abbey from Thursday 29 August 2024 until Sunday 6 October 2024.  Admission is free but donations to the upkeep and maintenance of the Abbey are very welcome.

Do see the website below to download a free pdf for school teachers and one for those who love to stitch!  www.jacqui-textile.com

For school group bookings, please request a booking form from Sue Lee:  sue.lee@sherborneabbey.com

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Everyone is invited to the Friends’ Coffee Morning on Wednesday 9 October 2024 from 10.30 am until 1.00 pm at the Digby Memorial Hall.

An informal opportunity to meet over tea or coffee with a slice of cake! Do join us and bring a friend, or friends!

It would be helpful, for catering purposes, if you could RSVP to Joanna.Sams@sherborneabbey.com to let us know if you will be coming.  Or for any offers of providing cakes please! Thank you.

Not a prayer group; just an opportunity to share ½ hour’s silence & meditation with fellow Christians and let God speak to us.

The meetings are ecumenical & are very refreshing – why not give it a try?

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month in the Lady Chapel, Sherborne Abbey from 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm.

Shirley Fry (01935 389124)

Pack Monday 14 October 2024 – Tours of Sherborne Abbey

Tour guides will be available between 10.00 am – 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm – they would be happy to take you on a short tour and/or answer any questions you may have.

(There is no charge for tours.)

On Monday 14 October 2024, Sherborne’s traditional annual fair features 250+ stalls, both artisan and local fabulous food stalls, traditional market stalls (that everyone loves), community stalls and a traditional fairground.

There is a service in Sherborne Abbey at 2.30 pm.  All welcome.

In The Abbey at 1.30 pm – get away from the hustle and bustle of Pack Monday for half an hour, sit down and enjoy this half hour recital.

On Monday 14 October 2024 by James Henderson, Director of Music, Sherborne Abbey.

(free entry, retiring collection, all welcome)

James Henderson, Director of Music

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Mothers’ Union is a global Christian movement working with people of all faiths and none to develop communities, strengthen families and advocate for change. Our members are active in 83 countries and work tirelessly to serve their communities to build a future where everyone thrives. Ending violence, ending poverty, ending injustice. We are a truly worldwide Christian movement.

The Sherborne Branch meets on the 4^th Friday of each month in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall at 10.00 am for 10.30 am start.

All welcome!

MU Secretary: Jo Higgs

For further information please email: musecretary@sherborneabbey.com

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Not a prayer group; just an opportunity to share ½ hour’s silence & meditation with fellow Christians and let God speak to us.

The meetings are ecumenical & are very refreshing – why not give it a try?

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month in the Lady Chapel, Sherborne Abbey from 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm.

Shirley Fry (01935 389124)

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Mothers’ Union is a global Christian movement working with people of all faiths and none to develop communities, strengthen families and advocate for change. Our members are active in 83 countries and work tirelessly to serve their communities to build a future where everyone thrives. Ending violence, ending poverty, ending injustice. We are a truly worldwide Christian movement.

The Sherborne Branch meets on the 4^th Friday of each month in the Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall at 10.00 am for 10.30 am start.

All welcome!

MU Secretary: Jo Higgs

For further information please email: musecretary@sherborneabbey.com

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie

Not a prayer group; just an opportunity to share ½ hour’s silence & meditation with fellow Christians and let God speak to us.

The meetings are ecumenical & are very refreshing – why not give it a try?

Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month in the Lady Chapel, Sherborne Abbey from 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm.

Shirley Fry (01935 389124)

Held in the village church of St James every other Tuesday, the café provides tea, coffee (free refills) and great cakes, for just £2.00 and will be open from 10.30 am until noon. Come along and bring a friend!       

The Reverend Lesley McCreadie