From the Vow Made – Exeter Cathedral

“From the Vow Made installation will be ‘a thousand thank yous’ suspended in the nave of the cathedral. We cannot wait to see how it transforms that magnificent space.” 

Lis Spencer, Exeter Cathedral.

A Thousand Wax Sculptures made by the community to say thank you on display in Exeter Cathedral this weekend.

From the Vow Made is a sculptural installation created in collaboration with award-winning artists, Neil Musson and Jono Retallick and the local community as part of a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project is inspired by the cathedral’s unique collection of medieval wax votives, made of hollow beeswax.

These moulded votive offerings once hung around the tomb of 15th century Bishop of Exeter, Edmund Lacy, by pilgrims seeking cures through his saintly influence and the offerings usually represented individual limbs that the pilgrims required healing.

During the Reformation, the practice of leaving offerings was stopped and Lacy’s tomb was defaced and that would have been the end of it, if not for the SEcond World War when, in 1942, the offerings were rediscovered behind a stone canopy above the tomb, while repairs were carried out following  bomb damage.

The discovery of 1,058 piece-  including one complete female figure – is of national significance as there are no other surviving votives of this kind in Britain.

Artist Neil Musson said:

“We asked 1,000 people, ranging from five years old to 95, what they are grateful for, and we have been touched by the depth and variation of the responses.

‘People often thanked us for this opportunity to spend time considering what they really value. 

‘Each votive is unique in the way that it has been carved but, more importantly, in the way that it reflects something which is very significant to each individual and it has been a pleasure to work with the cathedral team on this historic project,’ he added.

The wax figures were created during public workshops and sessions with local schools and community groups.

Lis Spencer, Community Outreach and Engagement Officer at Exeter Cathedral, said:

“So many people from the local community and beyond have been involved in the project. 

The From the Vow Made installation will be ‘a thousand thank yous’ suspended in the nave of the cathedral. We cannot wait to see how it transforms that magnificent space.”

Visitors can see ‘From the Vow Made’ at Exeter Cathedral from 1-4 June during the cathedral’s opening hours and it is included with standard sightseeing admission. More information here.