Bayeux Tapestry exhibition puts Tewkesbury Abbey’s ambitions on show
Will Jones smiles as he remembers the spring day when he “quite naively” emailed the British Museum asking if Tewkesbury Abbey could be involved in an autumn touring exhibition.
The chief operating officer awaited a reply. The museum responded that usually, such partnerships were agreed three years in advance. But they could offer a place on Bayeux Around Britain, a complementary national programme to the main Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London.
Six months on from that first hopeful email, and it’s opening night at the Gloucestershire abbey. A 70-metre full-scale Bayeux Tapestry reproduction is displayed around the nave. Invited guests and ticket holders stand in groups, admiring the vivid medieval scenes.
“It’s been a whirlwind to get this done,” says Will. “But we’ve managed to do it thanks to a really successful project manager in our Head of Marketing Jess Wardle, and the support of everyone.”
The exhibition is open to everyone, whether local or from further afield, offering a chance to admire the tapestry and discover how the Norman Conquest changed England forever.
At the heart of Tewkesbury’s community
Community has long been part of the abbey’s story – as Will explains, it was bought by the town in 1540, after the English Reformation, to be their parish church.
Today, that community focus shows up in several ways, from chaplaincy at local hospitals to space for neighbourhood groups and charities. The abbey has worked with more than 150 stakeholders in Tewkesbury on a 10-year vision, mission and values plan.
And events are a big part of community engagement, from Christmas fairs to ‘This is Tewkesbury’, a summer event featuring the local cricket and rugby clubs, pubs, shops and community groups.
“People were talking to one another who hadn’t spoken before, even though they had shops opposite one another on the high street,” Will says. “We’re providing shared space for people to be able to have those conversations.”
These events complement the abbey’s main purpose as a worshipping parish church for the people of Tewkesbury, he believes.
No limit to the abbey’s ambitions
Now that the abbey has put on an exhibition of national significance for local communities, Will believes that anything is possible.
“We’re developing a plan and a strategy to be able to compete with some of the big guys and cathedrals. As you’ll see from our national programme today, we’re up there and will only go one way – which is positive and progressive.
“We want to try new things, break the mould and be ambitious.”
How a £25,000 Benefact Trust grant is supporting Tewkesbury Abbey
Ambition needs to be supported by infrastructure, and no one is more aware of this than Will.
The abbey’s current lighting control system is overdue for replacement, so he successfully applied for a Benefact Trust Building Grant. The £25,000 grant will help the abbey improve lighting and electrics, enhancing and supporting future activities.
Will says: “We need to keep the lights on and the doors open. The amazing grant from Benefact Trust has enabled us to breathe a sigh of relief that we can put on all of the events and services we were planning.”
Visiting the Bayeux Tapestry and Norman Heritage Trail
Tewkesbury Abbey’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition and Norman Heritage Trail run until 11 July 2027, offering visitors the chance to explore a full-scale reproduction of the famous tapestry and discover more about the area's Norman history. Entry is free, with donations encouraged.
To find out more about the exhibition and plan your visit, head to the Tewkesbury Abbey website. Alternatively, explore Bayeux Tapestry events and activities at other participating venues across the UK as part of the nationwide Bayeux Around Britain programme.