New Escape Room story launched at Hereford Cathedral – Wish you were here

A second world war plane suspended in the nave, Mars, Peace Doves, an Escape Room, an exhibition celebrating water, and the retelling of the Bible in 25million stitches – all our cathedrals have exciting programmes of events for everyone this summer and all are underpinned by the daily rhythm of prayer and worship.

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

New Escape Room story launched at Hereford Cathedral

Hereford Cathedral has launched a new Escape Room story which recreates medieval Hereford and centres on a group of pilgrims and a lost ring intended as an offering for the shrine of St Thomas Cantilupe.

Called The Shrine Keeper players have to search for the missing ring and help solve the mystery before times run out.

The initial Escape Room, launched in 2022, was part of the Eastern Cloisters Project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the story centred around a cathedral lay clerk who had been suspected of embezzling funds. Over the last three years, the events team of the cathedral have welcomed hundreds of visitors to battle against the clock to solve the crime.

Verity Smithson, Events Assistant at Hereford Cathedral, said:

“We’ve had such an amazing response to the Escape Room since it launched, and lots of requests for a new storyline so that groups who have already completed the challenge can return for a new experience. The Shrine Keeper features different challenges, puzzles and most importantly a new crime to solve!

‘Elements of the original Escape Room which our visitors love will remain with the Old Chapel, located in the beautiful Cathedral Cloisters, staying as the event location. 

‘The game, whilst immersive, is also perhaps a gentler experience than other Escape Rooms, meaning that it can be easily adapted to suit a wide and diverse range of groups.  

The first sessions of The Shrine Keeper will take place during May half term and are now available to book via the cathedral website here.

Sessions are designed for two – six people aged eleven and over and cost £70 with the experience lasting an hour or less depending on how quickly teams can solve the mystery!

The development of The Shrine Keeper has been kindly supported by the Cathedral Sustainability Fund and thanks go too to the Cathedral Broderers and Alison & Hugh’s Handmade Things for their support in creating bespoke props for the Escape Room.