Cathy's Art Diary

Moving exhibition at Lambeth Palace Library looking at the history of the Archbishops of Canterbury. I say moving as I was there as Sarah Mullally was being enthroned at Canterbury Cathedral. As I was out and about I wasn't able to watch but spotted this show was on when I was in the area. I looked round the show then sat in the corner and watched the news reports coming through on BBC News live. The show highlighted some of the more intriguing figures mainly with a facsimile of archive material. It would have been nice to see more original pieces but given it was an unmonitored show I can see why this wasn't possible. A side room had display cases of objects a lot of which seem to have been donated/left behind by Archbishop Davidson. My favourite piece was the order of service for the enthronement of William Temple in 1942 signed by dignitaries who attended given the day. Closed 4 May 2026

Topical small exhibition at Lambeth Palace Library of documents and artefacts relating to previous coronations. In the week leading up to the Coronation I needed a related exhibition and this fit the bill perfectly. Although it was small it narrated some good stories from past Archbishops of Canterbury who had presided at the ceremonies. In a room to the side there was the cope and mitre worn by Archbishop Fisher in 1953 and with them were prompt boards made for Archbishop Temple for Edward VII’s coronation as he was 80 and his eyesight was failing. A later commentary told how the king kept muttering, 'I am very anxious about the Archbishop’ though the service. The earliest object was a 13th century copy of Henry I’s Coronation Charter, the earliest surviving one.   I think my favourite object was Archbishop Manners-Sutton at the coronation of George IV, with the signature of the King at the foot of the oath. The manuscript text of the coronation oath was mislaid and George ...