A new programme of monthly Art and Textile Tours will launch at Chichester Cathedral from 29 April 2026, offering visitors the opportunity to experience one of the country’s most remarkable collections of modern religious art and textile heritage in an engaging and dynamic way.
The newly curated tours form part of Glowing + Alive – a series of events to mark the 60th anniversary of artist and printmaker, John Piper’s High Altar tapestry. The programme features a temporary exhibition exploring the story and legacy of Piper’s tapestry - a bold and, at the time, controversial commission that brought vivid colour and modern abstraction into the heart of the Cathedral.
Led by expert guides, the 45-minute Art Tours delve into the Cathedral’s pioneering role as a centre for artistic innovation. A legacy shaped by visionary figures such as Dean Walter Hussey, who, during his tenure from 1955 - 1977, championed the work of leading 20th-century artists within the ancient sacred space.
Those taking part in the Art Tours will get to engage directly with a series of internationally significant works, including pieces by Hans Feibusch, Graham Sutherland and Marc Chagall as well as John Piper. The tours explore the ideas, stories and creative decisions behind the artworks, revealing how these artists reimagined sacred art in the 20th-century.
Textile heritage runs throughout the Cathedral, and the new dedicated Textile Tours, launching on 27 June, bring this story into focus. Alongside Piper’s landmark tapestry - created by master weavers in France, where Piper’s designs were translated into woven form through the careful blending of coloured threads - visitors will explore a rich tradition of textile art. From intricate Victorian embroideries to contemporary textile works, revealing how craftsmanship, creativity and innovation have shaped the building across generations.
“As we mark the 60th anniversary of John Piper’s iconic tapestry, our new art and textile tours offer the opportunity to explore the Cathedral’s extraordinary collection in greater depth - revealing the dialogue between artists and the Cathedral, the craftsmanship and creative processes behind the works, the context in which they were conceived, and how they continue to shape the space we see today. It’s been fantastic to see such a strong response already, with July’s tour selling out so quickly.”
Rebecca Lewry-Gray, Visitor Experience Manager at Chichester Cathedral
Set within nearly a thousand years of history, the tours reveal how these works interact with the Cathedral’s ancient architecture - creating a powerful dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Textile Tours take place at 11am on Saturday 27 June, Friday 31 July and Saturday 26 September 2026.
Whether attending individually, with a friend, or as part of a group, the tours provide an accessible and engaging way to experience the Cathedral’s art and heritage in a new light.
While visiting the Cathedral, tour participants will also have the opportunity to explore the Glowing + Alive exhibition, running until 15 November 2026, where they can encounter the tapestry’s vibrant design alongside rarely seen notebooks, preparatory studies and letters, offering deeper insight into one of the Cathedral’s most defining artworks.
To find out more and to book click here or visit ChichesterCathedral.org.uk.