Ripon Cathedral opens its doors to the past as Tudor Month begins

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An month-long event aimed at exploring the history of the Tudors is set to return to Ripon Cathedral.

The event, which has been running for over 30 years, will feature a royal portrait exhibition that will be open to the public all throughout June.

Alongside this exhibition will be guided tours on the June 2, 9, and 30, which will explore the cathedral’s deep-rooted history and connection to the Tudors.

Throughout the month there will be three guest lecturers attend the cathedral. The first being on June, 11, titled ‘Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn’ led by Dr Owen Emmerson, the Assistant Curator of Hever Castle.

The following Thursday, June 18, Professor John Cooper, of the University of York, will visit the cathedral. He will lead a talk on just how close did Queen Elizabeth I come to being assassinated during her reign and the darker side to her tenure, that of religious conflict and constant tension.

To close this trio of talks Reverend Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of History of the Church at the University of Oxford will be in Ripon on Thursday 25 June.

Professor MacCulloch will be exploring Henry VIII’s infamous break from Rome and the Protestant reformation that followed.

All three talks will be held at the cathedral between 7:30pm and 9:30pm with tickets costing £15 per person.

In between these talks, on June 23, will be a Tudor Workshop for Adults which will be running from 10:30am to 2:30pm.

The workshop will feature a tour of the Cathedral and the portrait exhibition, clay-crafting inspired by the cathedral’s own Tudor carvings and attendees will have the opportunity to create gold lettering akin to that of the Golden Gospel of Henry VIII.

All funds for all events will go to the cathedral as they hope to continue hosting similar events in the coming months.