In the Company of Good Mrs Shakspaire – Hereford Cathedral

A luminous lightwork will tell the story of the Magna Carta and the North in Durham,  a modern art installation inspired by the unknown story of the women behind the 1969 Moon Landing comes to Canterbury, there’s a brick by brick festival at Derby to promote creativity and community, a light organ at Blackburn, and Shakespeare’s letter that shed new light on his relationship with his wife goes on display in Hereford Cathedral – just some of the events planned this summer in our cathedrals.

#WishYouWereHere – Summer in our Cathedrals – what will you discover?

All our cathedrals have exciting programmes for everyone throughout this summer – from headline exhibitions to family days and arts and crafts – and all are underpinned by the daily rhythm of prayer and worship.

Some of our cathedrals charge entry and there may be a fee at others for specific events, but all our cathedrals are free to enter for prayer, worship or to light a candle.

Do check on the cathedral’s individual website for up-to-date information before you travel.

And don’t forget to share your pictures and tag us #WishYouWereHere – our summer campaign this year.

In the Company of Good Mrs Shakspaire – Hereford Cathedral

Join Hereford Cathedral on Friday 27 June for an evening celebrating new research by Dr Matthew Steggle which thrown new light on the relationship between William and Anne Shakespeare.

An article published in The Guardian in April brought international attention to the fragments of a letter which has been on deposit within the cathedral’s collections for 47 years.

The letter was manuscript waste which had been used in the binding of a copy of a book originally from Lady Hawkins School in Kington and opened with the line ‘Good Mrs Shakspaire’.

The initial discovery of the letter was made by then cathedral librarian F C Morgan in 1978 and throughout the years its provenance has been investigated on many occasions.

However, new research by Dr Matthew Steggle of Bristol University is believed to show that there is a direct link between the discovered letter and William Shakespeare.

The existence and contents of the letter also suggest that perceptions of an unhappy marriage between the Shakespeares may be incorrect and that the two could have lived happily together in London.

On Friday 27 June, Dr Steggle will discuss his research in a very special event – and THAT  letter will go on display too.

The Revd Canon James Pacey, Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral said

“We are really pleased that Dr Steggle is able to join us to share more about his fascinating research and how it might change all that we currently know about William and Anne Shakespeare. 

‘Discoveries like this really highlight the significance of archive collections and how important it is to preserve them for the generations to come. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an interesting collection here at Hereford Cathedral – who knows what other discoveries are waiting?!”

Tickets for ‘In the company of Good Mrs Shakspaire’ cost £15, including wine and canapes, and are available to purchase via the cathedral website. The event will take place in the cathedral’s South Transept.

Image Credit: Dr Matthew Steggle of Bristol University

More information and ticket details can be found here.