Meeting St Edmund in 2026: approaches to religious heritage in Bury St Edmunds

On this South and East Museums Federation study day we will find out how heritage organisations in Bury St Edmunds are reviving and responding to the life and legend of St Edmund, considered the original patron saint of England.

• Dan Clarke of Moyse’s Hall Museum will take us round their current exhibition on St Edmund and the Heathen Army (closes 4th October). We will learn about the story of St Edmund and how it has been interpreted over the centuries, and how the Abbey founded in his honour brought pilgrims from far and wide to the town.
• Bury St Edmunds Town Tour Guides provide high-quality tours of the town and Abbey ruins. Jules Armour will take us on a mini tour of the ruins of what was once one of the biggest Benedictine monasteries in Europe.
• The Abbey Reborn project has recently been granted funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake a wide-ranging scheme of work to improve and interpret the site of the enormous medieval Abbey of St Edmund. We will be hearing from Project Manager James Mellish and Interpretation Consultant Hannah Salisbury about the plans.

This is a great opportunity to visit Bury St Edmunds Abbey and Cathedral before improvement works are undertaken over the next few years, so you can visit again when they are complete for a compare and contrast!

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Please make your own arrangements for lunch (i.e. please bring a packed lunch or use one of the many local cafés).

New members are very welcome. Please select ‘event ticket + SEMFed membership’ (membership is £10 per year).

Please email us on admin@semfed.org.uk to let us know about any dietary requirements or access needs.

Image: Morgan Library & Museum. MS M.736 'Miscellany on the life of St. Edmund'