Threads through Creation Exhibition

Friday 4 September to Wednesday 7 October 2026

We re thrilled to welcome to Chelmsford Cathedral Jacqui Parkinson's Threads through Creation.

This is a free to enter exhibition, but we do recommend booking your free ticket in advance.

Open Daily - Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 5.00pm.  

Sundays - We are open on Sunday's around our Sunday Worship Services.  Booking is not required  during our Services, everyone is welcome to attend.

‘Threads through Creation’ is a spectacular sequence of twelve huge textile ‘ panels. It’s an exuberant retelling of the creation story in the book of Genesis, a retelling which many visitors will find both moving and breath-taking.

Visitors are treated to a wonderful variety of colours, shapes, patterns – and of course lots of creatures! The exhibition is one of the largest textile projects by a single artist, ever - Jacqui Parkinson. It has taken Jacqui nearly three years to complete. It follows on from ‘Threads through Revelation’, her first huge exhibition which visited 14 cathedrals from 2016 to 2018, and was seen by more than 500,000 visitors.

Please Note:  Sunday 13 September the Exhibition Panels will not be on display due to our busy day of Ordination Services

The Fabric of Creation: Responding Faithfully to the Stresses of Climate Crisis

Worship, Prayer and Christian Formation at Chelmsford Cathedral Autumn 2026

As part of the special Season of Creation our Autumn Programme of Worship and Music builds around the extraordinary and beautiful exhibition by Jacqui Parkinson, ‘Threads Through Creation’.  Our Sunday Sermon Series will reflect on The Fabric of Creation

Our full programme of Worship can be found here Chelmsford Cathedral

We also have some very special additional services celebrating this time of Creation:

Chelmsford Eco Church 10th Anniversary - Living waters of hope and healing 

Wednesday 30th Sept  5.15pm - 8.00pm 

We are delighted to invite you to Chelmsford Cathedral on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The service will begin at 5.15pm, followed by light refreshments and an opportunity to meet, chat, share stories and visit the stalls. The panel discussion will commence at 6.30pm.

Everyone is welcome! Come for all or part of the evening - it’s free and we’ll provide refreshments, but please book to help us with numbers for catering  Tickets can be booked here - Eco Church 10th Anniversary

County Harvest Festival    Sunday 27th Sept 3.30 - 6.00 pm              

Everyone is welcome to the service and afterwards for refreshments.  No booking required, just turn up and enjoy this lovely afternoon in the Cathedral.

We also have a fantastic programme of evening events and activities available. 

A number of these are free to attend or with a ticket fee.  Advance booking is recommended across all.

The Keene Series: Evenings of Conversation on Creation and Climate - Free to attend

Our Keene series in this autumn programme asks the question: how can we respond to climate crisis with both urgency and faithful expectation. What is asked of us practically, and how do we live well with the uncertainty of the times and the pressing needs of the future?

Our three speakers bring different insights to these timely questions, from Dr Anna Jones’ analysis of the divide in perception between urban and rural, to the Revd Hannah Malcolm’s contemplation of how the life of prayer can assist our love for this fragile earth, to Fr John Bloomer’s consideration of the links between science and theology in our approach to creation.

All three evenings are free events with refreshments available.  Pre-booking is recommended

Revd John Bloomer
Tuesday 15 September 2026 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Creation in Relationship: Science, Theology and Our Place in the
Living World

Fr John is a parish priest, scientist, and entrepreneur in the agricultural technology industry, focusing on development of technologies that underpin more sustainable and climate resilient plant-based agriculture. He is currently serving as interim Priest-in-Charge at St John’s church, Moulsham Street, alongside his secular work. Fr John has a particular interest in eco-theology and reflecting theologically and scientifically on the diverse and interconnected nature of the world we live in, and the place of humans within this. He also serves on the Church of England’s national Environmental Working Group

Anna Jones
Friday 02 October 2026 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Divide: The Relationship Crisis between Town and Country

Anna Jones is a rural affairs journalist, author, educator, and founder and CEO of Just Farmers™ Community Interest Company. She’s also a farmer’s daughter from the Welsh Borders.

She produced and directed BBC One’s Countryfile, Channel 4’s Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker and is a familiar voice on Radio 4’s Farming Today and On Your Farm. In 2025, Anna drove across the Midwest of America listening to the views of rural communities on President Trump for the Radio 4 documentary Corn Belt People.

Anna founded Just Farmers™ after completing a Nuffield Farming Scholarship looking at the coverage of agriculture in the mainstream media. She developed her own training model to give farmers and growers the practical skills and confidence to tell their own stories, in their own words.

Revd Dr Hannah Malcolm
Tuesday 06 October 2026 7.00pm - 8.30pm -
Priests of creation: the life of prayer and love for the earth

Hannah is a priest in the Church of England, currently serving her curacy in the diocese of Newcastle. Her doctoral work was concerned with the contribution of Christian theology to understandings of climate and ecological grief. She is the editor of Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage in the Global Church (SCM Press, 2020) and author of Christian Theology and Ecological Grief: Sorrow for the Earth (Routledge, 2026). She sits on the board of Operation Noah.

Threads Unplugged - Free to attend

Thursday 24/09, Monday 27/09 & 05/10

6.30pm to 8.30pm

Turn off the phone, quieten your mind and enjoy a creative evening of crafting with friends and family.

Bring your own craft, knitting, crochet, art, photography, whatever your creative mind enjoys.

Our licenced bar will be open to enjoy as well.

Sound Earth Collective Threads Concert

Wed 16 September

Doors 6.30pm     Concert 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Tickets  Adults £15.00  Students £8.50  Children 5 - 16yrs £5.00 (Tickets include drinks on arrival - Prosecco or soft drinks available . U18's soft drink only)

Through Sound Earth Collective, its founders - Alastair Penman and Jenni Watson - aim to deliver emotionally engaging music and multimedia experiences that encourage us to reconnect with nature, inviting us to reconsider our actions and behaviours, on any scale.

Tonight’s performance is set again Jacqui Parkinson’s spectacular “Threads through Creation”, a set of twelve huge textile panels forming an exuberant retelling of the creation story in the book of Genesis. The music will reflect elements of creation as well as the beauty of nature and all the creatures of the world.

Expect repertoire ranging from an inventive arrangement of All Things Bright and Beautiful, Chopin’s haunting Raindrop Prelude, original compositions by Alastair and Jenni and works from composers ranging from Debussy right through to Joni Mitchell; all performed on saxophones, clarinets, flute and piano!

Echoes Through Time: The Story and Soundscape of Chelmsford Cathedral’s Bells

Thur 17 Sept   

Doors 6.30pm    Talk 7.00pm - 8.30pm  

Tickets  Adults/Students £5.00  Children 5 - 16yrs Free

Discover the remarkable journey of Chelmsford Cathedral’s iconic bells—an extraordinary ring of twelve, originally cast in 1913 in preparation for the moment when St Mary’s Church was elevated to cathedral status. These bells, cast by the well known London bell founders John Warner & Sons, form the only complete Warner twelve in existence, giving Chelmsford a uniquely distinctive sound that has resonated across the city for more than a century.

This talk will explore historical origins of bellringing, how the bells are used today, the craft and challenge of ringing and The bells’ cultural significance, reflecting on recordings and performances.

Blending history, craftsmanship, and living tradition, this talk invites the audience to step into the ringing room and experience how the Cathedral’s bells continue to shape the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of Chelmsford. 

Please note:  The ringing room is accessed via a steep, small, winding stone staircase which is not accessible for all.  

Art of Sustainable Flower Arranging

Practical foam-free arranging techniques with locally sourced, seasonal flowers.

Thurs 01 October

Doors 6.30pm    Starts  7.00pm - 9.00pm  

Tickets  Adults £10.00 - include a glass of prosecco on arrival (soft drink option available)

An information evening explaining the recent General Synod motion including understanding why the change is necessary, showcasing a
wide range of alternative mechanics for arranging flowers and finding out where to source local, seasonal flowers.

During the evening there will be a demonstration on how to arrange a pedestal design without floral foam, a chance to meet some local flower farmers and an opportunity to ask questions to the panel.

There will also be an opportunity to view a range of sustainable flower arrangements created by Chelmsford Cathedral Flower Guild members.

Organ Meditation

Sun 04 October

5.00pm - 5.45pm

To mark the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assis, Samuel Bristow presents a sequence based on Francis Jackson’s beloved hymn tune East Acklam (For the fruits of his creation), including a rare complete performance of Franciscan Fragment by Andrew Carter.

Other Information

During the exhibition our day to day Cathedral life will continue as usual.  Below are just some of the other events and activities taking place during opening hours.

Threads School Visits

During our scheduled school visits the exhibition is still open for all.  The school visit dates and times are noted on the booking page.

Cathedral Concerts

We have commercial concerts booked on the dates below.  The exhibition is still open, but there will be some disturbance around the Cathedral as they setup for the evening show.  Typically loud soundchecks will be going on between 2.00pm - 4.00pm 

Concert dates - Sat 05/09, Wed 09/09, Fri 18/09, Sat 19/09 and Sat 03/10.  

Cathedral Bell Ringing Peel attempt Sat 3rd October 10.30am - 2.30pm 

A bell ring peal attempt is a significant event in bell ringing, where ringers attempt to ring a specific sequence of changes on a set of bells. A peal is a performance that meets specific criteria, including at least 5040 changes and must be rung without errors.

The attempt typically takes about three hours to complete and requires considerable mental stamina and teamwork.

Friday Lunchtime Concerts - Free to attend

Our Friday Lunchtime Concerts take place every week during term times..  

Arrange from 11.30am onwards to get your free cup of tea or coffee.  The concert is between 12.00 - 12.45 

See our Cathedral website for details of the performers.

For full details of our events programme during the exhibition is available on our website Chelmsford Cathedral Events What's On

Prayer for the Season

O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all that lives. We remember with shame that we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty, so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realise that thy creatures live not for us alone but for themselves and for thee, and that they love the sweetness of life.

Basil the Great (330-379). Adapted.

The fundraised income generated from supporting our events helps raise funds to maintain this beautiful building, continue our charitable work and keep our doors open for all. Thank you for your support.

Registered Charity No. 1207270