Worship, learning and hospitality: Norwich Cathedral and the Benedictine Rule in the 21st century

‘I think the exhibition is a really inspiring way of getting us to think about that interaction, that conversation and dialogue between faith and contemporary lives and society.’

Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval explores the Rule of St Benedict, a deeply influential guide for communal living written in the 6th century.

For its first 450 years, Norwich Cathedral was run by monks who followed the Rule of St. Benedict, before the monastic community was officially dissolved in 1538, during the Reformation. The Cathedral boasts the largest monastic cloister in England, and St. Benedict’s Rule continues to influence the life of Norwich Cathedral and its community. We hear from The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich, on how those ways of living are still ingrained in the day-to-day life of the cathedral.

Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval, 16 May – 4 October 2026, brings together extraordinary objects from medieval monastic contexts with a fascinating selection of contemporary artworks, and reflects on the ‘rules’ that we live by today.

The Benedictine Art Project and lecture series at Norwich Cathedral has been designed to complement this exhibition and sees newly commissioned work by three artists reflecting the Benedictine themes of healing and wholeness, hospitality and contemplative learning.

The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich. Photo: Kate Wolstenholme