Norwich Cathedral – Praying with Icons – The Work of the Walsingham Iconographers

St Seraphim's Trust is staging a groundbreaking exhibition, Praying with Icons –
The Work of the Walsingham Iconographers at The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral, from Thursday, December 5, 2013 to Wednesday, January 1, 2014, open Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday, 12noon to 3pm. Entry is free.

Praying with Icons is the first exhibition of work of the late Fr. David (d 1993) and Leon Liddament (d. 2010) of the Brotherhood of St. Seraphim. For more than forty years the iconographers made Icons in the Orthodox Tradition, which can now be found not only in churches and private collections in the UK but also the world. The icons of early British saints, including local saints, were an important part of their work

Father David at work

The exhibition, featuring 30 icons, will set the artists’ work within the tradition of iconography and Orthodox liturgy and prayer. It will also feature archive film of Walsingham as a place of pilgrimage and the iconographers at work.

Leon Liddament at work

“We are delighted to have been invited to stage an exhibition of at The Hostry,” said Sylvia Batchelor, St Seraphim’s Trust, “and are very grateful to the Dean and Chapter of Norwich Cathedral for giving us this very special opportunity. The exhibition will bring Fr. David and Leon Liddament’s work to a new audience and help raise the profile of the chapel and our plans for the future in Walsingham.”

Peter Doll, Canon Librarian, Norwich Cathedral said: “‘Norwich Cathedral is delighted to host this exhibition of icons in the Hostry. Eastern Orthodox communities are an important addition to the religious landscape of East Anglia, bringing valuable ancient traditions of prayer and spirituality. Orthodox icons have become significant features of many English churches, including the Cathedral.”

Special events 
Friday, December 6 at 7pm, ‘Praying with Icons’ a talk by Fr Stephen Stavrou. Fr. Stephen is an Anglican priest from an Orthodox background. He studied theology at St John’s College Cambridge and prepared for ordained ministry at Westcott House, while also doing a Masters at Peterhouse. His research focused on the use of liturgical arts in Worship, particularly Orthodox Christian Iconography.

Saturday, December 7 at 3.15pm, preview of ‘Living Prayer in Christianity’, a film by Richard Temple.

St Seraphim’s Trust (est. 2005) is based in the former Walsingham Railway Station, home to St Seraphim’s Orthodox Chapel since 1967. The chapel is located next to the coach park in Little Walsingham and is open daily.

The story of the Orthodox faith in Walsingham began in the 1930s when emigré Russian priests visited the Anglican Shrine. A Pan-Orthodox Chapel was established at the Anglican Shrine in 1945. But the growth of interest in the Orthodox faith led to the development of St Seraphim’s Chapel in the old railway station in 1967. Father David, the priest in charge led a Lay Brotherhood of St Seraphim and created the Icon workshop. Further growth in the Orthodox community saw the opening of the Holy Church of the Transfiguration in Great Walsingham in 1988.

Find about more about St. Seraphim’s Trust, including its peaceful garden and railway heritage at www.iconpainter.org.uk, t. 01328 820610.

For more information about Norwich Cathedral see www.cathedral.org.uk, t. 01603 218300, e. reception@cathedral.org.uk.