Medieval Graffiti in England's Churches: a talk with Matthew Champion

Please note that after the talk there will be an opportunity to explore Worcester Cathedral's Graffiti, with Dr Ros Gammie. If you are interested, please select the 'Talk + Tour' ticket option at checkout. The tour will begin immediately after the talk has ended and will last approximately 50 minutes.

Medieval graffiti: the lost voices of England’s churches

Today most forms of graffiti are regarded as destructive, anti-social and certainly not something that we should encourage or welcome on our historic churches and cathedrals. However, that attitude is largely a modern one. Prior to about 1850 all forms of graffiti were accepted as normal. As a result our medieval churches, castles, and cathedrals are covered in hundreds of thousands of largely unrecorded inscriptions. These deal with matters of faith, of commerce, and of life and death. Waiting only for someone to read them.

Like other old monuments across the UK, Worcester Cathedral has its own share of ancient and modern graffiti. Marks believed to ward off evil spirits sit alongside architectural inscriptions left by the masons who originally built the cathedral. Graffiti left by hundreds of years of early tourists lie alongside the prayers of those who worshipped in the building, from the middle ages to the present day. Like all forms of historical church graffiti, these markings allow us to see the cathedral in a whole new light, and bring to life the lost stories of the past.

Matthew's talk starts at 12.30pm, doors open midday.

About the Speaker

Matthew is a multi-award winning archaeologist and historian who is widely regarded as England’s leading expert on medieval graffiti inscriptions. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and the Royal Historical Society, and has worked with organisations such as English Heritage, the Churches Conservation Trust and the National Trust - as well as writing and lecturing extensively upon historical subjects. His most recent full-length work, Medieval Graffiti: the Lost Voices of England's Churches, was published by Ebury Press in 2016.