Western Morning News (Saturday)
Cathedral markets returning next week
THE first market to be hosted by Exeter Cathedral in two years is to take place next week. The popular visitor attraction is opening its doors to shoppers and traders on Monday, October 4, for its two-day Autumn Fair.
More than 50 local businesses will set up their stalls beneath the cathedral’s famous vaulted ceiling.
For chief operating officer Catherine Escott, the fair is a significant milestone in the cathedral’s road to recovery after over a year of coronavirus pandemic restrictions, including several months of closure:
She said: “Exeter Cathedral has always been a natural gathering place for the local community, as well as a beautiful setting for seasonal events.
“But this year’s Autumn Fair is significant because it will be the first public market we’ve been able to host since 2019. Last year’s planned events had to be cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
“It also marks the start of a very busy season of events for us, building up to the Exeter Cathedral
Christmas Market in November, as well as the return of our Advent and Christmas services. We’re really excited to see so many local businesses coming back to the cathedral this year.”
Visitors to next week’s Autumn Fair will be welcomed back with free entry to the cathedral and a free glass of mulled wine. Alongside the stalls – offering everything from locally-produced food and drink, to handmade pottery, jewellery and clothing – there will also be performances from Exeter Cathedral’s musicians, stone -masonry demonstrations, and a display of rare treasures from its library and archives.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to try out some new technology – Exeter Cathedral augmented reality experiences that are currently being developed with the University of Exeter as part of its VISTA-AR programme.
But while confident, organisers at the cathedral are continuing to monitor the ongoing pandemic, alongside event planning. This year, both the Autumn Fair and Christmas Market have been designed to allow for safe social distancing, and visitors for next week’s event are encouraged to book their free place in advance to help control numbers.
‘It marks the start of a very busy season building up to the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market’
The Dean of Exeter, The Very Reverend Jonathan Greener, said: “As with our services and our visitor open periods, we are taking every precaution in preparing and designing next week’s Autumn Fair, and we’ll continue to be guided by the advice of Exeter City Council, the Safety Advisory Group and Public Heath England.
“Exeter Cathedral is 100 per cent here for the local community so we love nothing more than to throw open our doors and bring together Devon’s local craftspeople, businesses and performers. But, of course, being here for the people of Devon also means helping to keep them safe, and that will always be our top priority.”
The Autumn Fair starts at 6.30pm on Monday, October 4, and runs until 3pm the following day.