A month-long exhibition exploring the nature, content, and translation of sacred texts. Translating the Sacred explores how important religious texts are engaged with, translated, interpreted, and shared.

We are delighted to display as part of the exhibition Holy Writ, a textile created to celebrate the common threads that bind together the Abrahamic traditions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Part of Chester’s 'Festival of the Bible' taking place throughout October 2025.

Interpreted dramatically by the Italian poet Dante in the fourteenth century, Purgatory as a concept resonates with us just as strongly in the twenty-first century, concerning, as it does, the place of the seven deadly sins (lust, greed, wrath, sloth, envy, pride and gluttony) in our world today.

Rarely have our current values and preoccupations seemed more questionable in an increasingly unbalanced world. Many suffer, whist others thrive, seemingly driven by self-interest.

This exhibition highlights our vision of Purgatory in contemporary society through a display of multi-media art works exemplifying our current view of who we are, and who we might be. Yet for Dante, and for us now, hope remains a constant fixture in our lives.

Chester Cathedral is many things to many people, and we want to be a place where people gather to discuss the BIG topics. Assemble is an invitation to come and hear engaging speakers on topics that are relevant in our modern world.

Our next Assemble will explore do prisons rehabilitate?

Join us to explore this pertinent question.

Refreshments available from 6.15pm