Chichester Cathedral has revealed a compelling season of events and experiences that will run alongside its major 2026 exhibition, Glowing + Alive, celebrating the 60th anniversary of John Piper’s iconic High Altar tapestry.
Supported by Henry Adams Estate Agents, the season brings together exhibitions, talks, tours and creative workshops for all ages, offering a range of ways to engage with one of the most significant works of modern sacred art in Britain.
Installed behind the Cathedral’s High Altar in 1966, Piper’s seven-panel tapestry remains one of the boldest and most significant works of modern art ever placed within an English cathedral - a vivid and uncompromising commission that introduced contemporary abstract form and radiant colour into the heart of the building at a time when Britain was emerging from post-war austerity. Sixty years on, it continues to captivate visitors, inspiring wonder and reflection.
Running from Friday 13 February until 15 November 2026, Glowing + Alive explores the remarkable story behind the tapestry’s creation - from its daring commissioning to the artistry and craftsmanship involved - and how this visionary artwork brought a striking new sense of light, colour and symbolism into Chichester’s historic Cathedral.
Exhibition Curators, Reverend Vanessa Baron, Canon Treasurer, and Rebecca Lewry-Grey, Visitor Experience Manager at Chichester Cathedral, said: “Glowing + Alive tells the story of an extraordinary meeting of minds - John Piper’s deep reverence for the Church and its material history, Dean Walter Hussey’s conviction that sacred spaces should speak in a contemporary voice, and Bishop George Bell’s belief that the arts belong at the heart of Christian life. The commission brought colour, confidence and daring modernism into the Cathedral, and visitors are still drawn into the tapestry’s symbolism today - pausing, questioning and interpreting what they see. This season allows us to uncover the correspondence, design process and craftsmanship behind this significant and, at the time, controversial work. We are grateful to Henry Adams for supporting the 2026 exhibition and associated programme, enabling deeper public engagement with the Cathedral’s artistic and textile heritage.”
The exhibition title Glowing + Alive was inspired by a letter found written to Dean Walter Hussey about the tapestry, which included the words: “I felt here was something that was glowing and alive and symbolic of what the Church must and should be in this present age. It took away the feeling that Christianity is old and crumbling like the Cathedral. Here was something to bring hope and challenge to all of us.” P 136, ‘Patron of Art’, Walter Hussey, London 1985.
A glowing season of events
Alongside the exhibition, the Cathedral will host a series of events, specialist tours and creative sessions designed to help visitors explore the tapestry and the Cathedral’s artistic heritage in greater depth.
Programme highlights include:
- ASHES TO FIRE (13 February – 5 April 2026): A complementary exhibition of new artworks by contemporary British artist Alice Carter. Presented in the Cathedral’s South Transept, ASHES TO FIRE offers a compelling dialogue with Piper’s tapestry through seven large-scale oil paintings tracing the journey from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost. (FREE)
- Weave Together – Saturday 14 February 2026: A special half-term weaving workshop for families. Inspired by the Piper tapestry, children aged 7+ will create their own woven bookmark to take home. (Booking required)
- Artist-led tours: Alice Carter’s ASHES TO FIRE (6 & 7 March 2026): A rare opportunity to join Alice Carter for a guided exploration of her compelling series of paintings responding to Piper’s tapestry, welcoming people of all faiths and none into a space for reflection and conversation. (Tickets available from 13 February)
- Slow Art Day at Chichester Cathedral – Saturday 11 April 2026: A guided session encouraging slow contemplation of art, exploring five artworks in the Cathedral - including Piper’s tapestry - followed by discussion of how art functions within sacred spaces. (Tickets available from 13 February)
- Tour: The Art of Chichester Cathedral – from 29 April 2026: A monthly guided introduction to the Cathedral’s outstanding art collection, from medieval wall paintings and sculpture reliefs to Victorian glass and major contemporary commissions. Running on selected Wednesdays. (Tickets available from 13 February)
- Tour: Textiles and the Fibre Arts – from 27 June 2026: Specialist tours celebrating the Cathedral’s textile heritage and marking the 60th anniversary year of the Piper tapestry, exploring fibre art from Victorian embroideries to contemporary textile pieces. (Tickets available from 13 February)
Glowing + Alive runs from 13 February – 15 November 2026. Entry to Chichester Cathedral and the exhibition is free, though donations are welcome.
