Events & Activities

The Friends have a programme of activities and events, many of which are open to non-members. These combine fund-raising with education, entertainment and social events.

Friends’ Festival

The Annual Friends’ Festival is held on the final Sunday in June. The day comprises a Eucharist in the morning, shared lunch, Annual General Meeting, a talk or presentation, afternoon tea and Evensong.

Fitzhamon Lecture

The Annual Fitzhamon Lecture was inaugurated in 2017 and is usually held on a Saturday in April. The next Fitzhamon Lecture on the subject of the medieval stained glass will be given by conservator Jim Budd ACR on 12th April 2025. Previous lectures are listed below.

2017 The Secret Life of an Archivist, by Pat Webley, Abbey Archivist
2018 The Founders’ Book by Professor Julian Luxford
2019 Tewkesbury’s Benedictine Heritage by Professor Joyce Hill
2021 Hallowing God’s House in 1121: The Consecration of the Abbey Church at Tewkesbury by Professor John Harper
2022 The Last Monks of Medieval Tewkesbury by Professor James Clark
2023 The Heraldry of The Founders’ Book by Dr Adrian Ailes
2024 Robert Fitzhamon by Professor Judith Green

Educational and Social Events at the Abbey

2018 – ‘Music of the Angels’ – an introduction to medieval musical instruments by Waytes and Measures’ (Pictured above)
2018 – ‘Tewkesbury Abbey’s Stained Glass’ – a lecture by Adrian Barlow
2020 – ‘Tewkesbury and Hereford – Compare and Contrast’ – Zoom lecture by Very Revd Michael Tavinor
2021 – ‘A New Timeline for Tewkesbury?’ – Zoom lecture by Dr Andy Moir (dendrochronologist)
2022 – ‘Sir George Gilbert Scott: Hero or Villain?’ – a lecture by Mr Tim Bridges
2023 – ‘Changing churches – Re-purposing for the present day’ – an illustrated talk by Mr Tim Jeffree
2024 – ‘Beyond the Abbey Church: An examination of Tewkesbury’s medieval monastic precinct’ – an illustrated talk by Dr Ellie March

Visits to Other Places

2016 – Hereford Cathedral and the Mappa Mundi
2017 – Southwell Minster
2017 – Bodleian Library and the Founders’ Book
2018 – Glastonbury Abbey and Wells Cathedral
2019 – City of London: St John’s Clerkenwell, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, St Paul’s Cathedral
2019 – Romsey Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral
2022 – Coventry Cathedral and the Sikh Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha (picture above)
2023 – Nicholson’s Organ Works and Little Malvern Priory
2023 – Leicester Central Mosque and the Richard III Centre
2024 – The Firs, Upper Broadheath, with recital of music by Elgar
2024 – Worcester Cathedral

Extra for Friends

Members of the Friends have access to photographs and reports from Friends’ events. This can be found via the Gallery on the ‘Just for Friends’ page which can be reached by clicking on this text box.

Young Friends

The Young Friends have their own events and information about their activities can be found on the Young Friends page which can be reached by clicking on this text box.

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