Priory900

Progress Report

Priory 900: An Introduction

Background

In 2013, Bridlington Priory will celebrate 900 years of existence, since its founding as an Augustinian Priory in 1113. To mark this historic landmark of one of the major churches of the region, a team has been established to plan a festival programme of celebration, lasting from March to October 2013.

The aims of the programme are to celebrate:

The original vision of its foundation to promote spiritual growth, understanding and hospitality for the whole local community
The life and achievements of the Priory and its people, past, present and future, and its place in the wider community
The life of the whole community of Bridlington and its hinterland.

It is therefore intended to be both a domestic and an inclusive celebration.We want people to visit the Priory throughout the Festival, from all over Yorkshire and beyond, and we want to work with partners across Bridlington and beyond to recognise a historic event of regional and even national significance. With the scale and splendour of the pre-reformation building, St John of Bridlington's unique status as the last English person to be canonised before the Reformation, the fame of the Priory as a pilgrimage centre in the late middle ages, and the drama of the dissolution and the Prior's execution there is a dramatic story to tell. And the Priory has sustained its importance as a centre of Christian life, a focus for the local community, and we hope it will continue to do so for many years to come.

The Festival Programme

The programme outline, which we have been working on over the last year, is still developing, so it is easier to present it schematically than chronologically. However it is worth noting that the beginning and end of the Festival will be marked by major services of celebration, with the Area Bishop and the Archbishop.

Visiting the Priory April-October

Throughout the Festival season we want the Priory to be a stimulating and even challenging place to visit; one that informs and challenges assumptions about such buildings and the part they have played and continue to play in the lives of the local community.

We are planning for:

An exhibition on the life of St John of Bridlington (SJB) and its impact
A linked book on the life of St John, and a new tapestry
A fortnightly series of practical workshops on crafts related to historic churches and monasteries - e.g stone masonry, wood carving, stained glass, calligraphy, embroidery, - with a final exhibition of work produced etc
A trail or 'reflective journey' around the inside of the building for visitors to take part in
Children's/school visits and workshops
A temporary labyrinth, for reflective walking in the churchyard.

Music and drama

A number of productions and events are in planning.

Priory Visions: a partnership production with a team from Christ Church (who produced the Passion Play in 2009) and Brid Arts Fest. Probably outside, late May
'And now let all her ships come in': a dramatic cantata, commissioned music, libretto and artwork, and involving 90 children from local schools. Focusing on spiritual journeys, of all kinds. Late June/early July
Songs of Praise: we have made an application and wait to hear if this is successful
'Our Priory Story': an in-house production with the Choir and tableaux. October

Special displays

Plans are being made for a Flower Festival and art exhibitions

Study

A Conference - 'Celebrating the heritage' - is planned (September) which will have high quality specialist speakers, on historical themes relating to the Priory and its monastic life. We aim to attract visitors and locals, and it will be aimed primarily at a non-specialist audience, with opportunities to participate. We hope to include a performance of the anonymous fifteenth century choral work, the St John of Bridlington Mass.

Worship and spirituality

There will be a major service to launch the Priory 900 festival in late March, in the presence of the Archbishop. In addition to the regular Sunday worship, enriched by the fine Priory choir, there will be other special services during the summer, culminating in the closing service in mid-October - another Episcopal celebration. We also hope to have a workshop day offering 'tasters' of a diverse range of Christian spiritual practice.

Outdoor events

There will be two main kinds of event under this heading:

Festival:The Summer Fayre (June) and the Old Town Summer Festival (July) in this year will be planned to complement and be a part of the Priory 900 Festival, with a medieval fair and other relevant events
Pilgrimage: Given the importance of Bridlington Priory as a pilgrimage destination it is appropriate to include a pilgrimage in the programme. This will be in late August (around the Bank Holiday and also an important date, St Augustine's Day Aug 28) and will have two branches - a small group coming from Beverley and another, larger group from York converging on Woldgate for the final stage to the Priory

Co-ordinator:
Penelope Weston, The Toft, 43 High Street, BRIDLINGTON, YO16 4PR
01262 678484
penelopeweston@talktalk.net

29 January 2012