Southwell Minster featured in Songs of Praise: Women of the Easter Story
Southwell Minster features in Songs of Praise this Holy Week, as Rev. Kate Bottley visits the historic cathedral to discover how three contemporary Christians have found inspiration in the remarkable women of the Easter story.
Kate meets renowned textile artist Jacqui Parkinson, whose striking exhibition, Threads through the Bible, is currently touring cathedrals across the UK. At Southwell Minster, only the second venue in the world to host this extraordinary collection, Jacqui reflects on her creative process and the biblical inspiration behind her work, including the moving story of the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume.
The exhibition itself is a breathtaking journey told through 44 large textile panels, grouped into three monumental series: Threads through Creation, Threads through the Cross, and Threads through Revelation. Together, they take visitors from the opening pages of Genesis, through pivotal moments in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, to the vivid imagery of the book of Revelation.
Kate also speaks with Rev. Dawn Knight, who has made a special trip to Southwell to see the exhibition. She shares how artistic representations of Mary cradling Jesus’ body after the crucifixion brought comfort and healing following the heartbreaking loss of her own son.
We also hear from Kim Gardener, who sees her own journey reflected in the life of Mary Magdalene. After a difficult early life and struggles with addiction, Kim found faith and now draws daily inspiration from Mary Magdalene’s relationship with Jesus in her work at a Christian charity.
All this, accompanied by uplifting hymns to mark the solemn beauty and hope of Holy Week.