BibleLands: Presence

A linked series of exhibitions in six cathedrals throughout Britain in 2004 celebrating 150 years of BibleLands’ ministry

A complete guide to the linked series of exhibitions, priced at £10.80 (including UK P&P), is available from the BibleLands offices. For your copy, please telephone our 150th Anniversary Co-ordinator, Jean Hatton, on 01494 897977 with your credit card details and we will be pleased to send you a copy.

Ecce Homo
by Peter Howson

One of the 26 works shown at St Paul's Cathedral, the first exhibition venue of Presence: Images of Christ for the Third Millennium - a linked series of exhibitions in six cathedrals throughout Britain in 2004 celebrating 150 years of BibleLands’ ministry.

As part of its Anniversary celebrations, BibleLands organised a major exhibition of contemporary art throughout 2004, that focussed on the person of Jesus Christ, the inspiration for its work over the last 150 years.

London: Monday 2 February to Friday 13 February
The first exhibition began at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on Monday 2 February, when the north and south transepts of the Cathedral housed work by 26 contemporary artists. Some are well known names, others less well known, but all the works reflected on the person of Jesus. The artists featured were: Norman Adams, Craigie Aitchison, John Bellany, Matthew Burrows, Mark Cazalet, Billy Childish, Tracey Emin, Chris Gollon, Maggi Hambling, Susie Hamilton, Robert Hardy, Albert Herbert, Paul Hobbs, Ghislaine Howard, Peter Howson, Sonia Lawson, Christopher Le Brun, Paul Martin, Louise McClary, Iain McKillop, Nicholas Mynheer, Kate Rose, Martin Rose, Roger Wagner, Penny Warden, and Peter White.

Viewing Times:
Weekdays: 08:30 to 16:45
Saturday 07 Feb: 11:45 to 16:45
Sunday 08 Feb: 12:30 to 15:30

Another part of the exhibition took place outdoors in the City of London when, on Shrove Tuesday (24 February) and Ash Wednesday (25 February), Michael Gough and Barry Richardson presented Iconography. A figure, dressed as the archetypal Christ, walked through the City of London.

The ensuing meetings between the icon and the members of the public were documented and presented, 40 days later in a city church, St Katharine Cree, Leadenhall Street, London (29/03 to 04/04).

Canterbury: Sunday 22 February to Monday 12 April (Easter Monday)
At Canterbury Cathedral, during Lent and the Easter weekend, 22 February until 12 April (Easter Monday), a new piece by Anthony Gormley, entitled 'Rise', was placed in The Shrine, the original site of Thomas Becket's tomb. The week preceding Easter included a special light installation by Willie Williams entitled Vigil. This culminated in the Easter midnight service on 10 April.

Glasgow: Monday 22 March to Monday 12 April (Easter Monday)
Monday 22 March began the exhibition in Glasgow's Episcopal Cathedral. Stations of the Cross and two large, new paintings of the crucifixion by Peter Howson, were hung in the cathedral. These were available throughout the period of Lent for private prayer and meditation.

On Good Friday (9 April) and Holy Saturday (10 April), there were interventions and performance pieces by several artists, including Aileen Campbell.

Worcester: Monday 29 March to Friday 23 April
At Worcester Cathedral, paintings by Martin Rose — meditations on the seven last words of Christ from the cross — were exhibited for two weeks from 29 March. At Evensong on Palm Sunday, the Lindsay Quartet played Haydn's Seven Last Words. After Easter, a second exhibition of paintings, celebrating the resurrection and ascension of Christ, was installed in the cathedral.

Lincoln: Tuesday 27 April to Friday 4 June
Presence at Lincoln was a cooperative venture between the Cathedral and the Usher Gallery. Three sculptures, Chowl and Sorry, Sorry Sarajevo by Nicola Hicks and Blue Christ by Jill Sim, were installed in the Cathedral from 26 April.

Durham: Saturday 31 July to Sunday 5 September
A major retrospective exhibition of the work of sculptor Fenwick Lawson was held in Durham Cathedral from 2 August to 4 September in celebration of the 900th anniversary of the translation of the relics of St Cuthbert into the Cathedral. The exhibition included four pieces relating to the person of Christ: Pieta, The Risen Christ, Daughters of Jerusalem and The Scourging, bringing the exhibition Presence to an end.

Stations of the Cross IV, Jesus Meets His Mother
Chris Gollon