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		SPECIAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE LOCAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISES Bath Abbey will be hosting ‘Next steps...’, a one-off event to celebrate and raise awareness of local social enterprises on Thursday 16 May, from 12pm to 3pm. Members of the public can get involved by bringing in their bikes to the Abbey courtyard for servicing by the Bath Bike Company or sampling some free soup made and served by the Bath Soup Company. There will also be a display of planters made by Handy Help, a new social enterprise project set up by Clean Slate and DHI (Developing Health and Independence) which aims to get long-term unemployed people in Bath and North East Somerset to help vulnerable people and those on low incomes to improve their homes and gardens. Another of the highlights will be one of Bath’s most innovative social enterprises, Secret City Tours, which offers an entertaining, informative walk led by the homeless or formerly homeless to discover a hidden side to this amazing World Heritage city. Tickets are £7 and £5 for concessions. The tour lasts 1hr 30mins and will start from outside the Abbey at 3pm following the ‘Next Steps...’ event on Thursday 16 May. To read the full story click here.
		ART EXHIBITION ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO THINK DIFFERENTLY Bath Abbey welcomes the return of 'Think Different', an annual exhibition featuring artwork by local people who are currently supported by homelessness charities in Bath. The exhibition which runs from 14 to 19 May is a longstanding partnership between Bath Abbey and local Bath homeless and housing organisations including Big Issue, DHI (Developing Health and Independence), Julian House, Genesis Trust, and Stonham Housing. A variety of artwork including film, photography, creative writing and sound will be on show including animation, refurbished furniture and even planters for the garden. Organisers are hoping that the variety of and creativity displayed by the works within the exhibition will make visitors more aware of the potential of the homeless, those in poor housing or those facing addictions, and to enable us to ‘think differently’ about them. To read the full story click here.
		LOCAL ARTIST SHOWS WORK ALONGSIDE DAMIEN HIRST AT BATH ABBEY Local artist Patrick Haines has been overwhelmed by the positive response he has received for his work which is currently on display at Bath Abbey as part of the ‘Odyssey’ exhibition. Three of Patrick’s pieces are on show in Bath Abbey alongside household names such as Damien Hirst and David Mach. Examining the relationship between man and nature, Patrick’s work brings the untamed natural world into ordered human environments. To read the full story click here.
David Mach Jacob's Ladder		ODYSSEY: A long journey in which many things happen 5 April to 6 May An art exhibition at Bath Abbey curated by bo.lee projects Tessa Farmer, Patrick Haines, Damien Hirst, David Mach, Koji Shiraya Bath Abbey will be the iconic location for ‘Odyssey’, a major contemporary art exhibition featuring work by renowned and emerging artists including Damien Hirst, David Mach, Tessa Farmer, Koji Shiraya and Bath-based, Patrick Haines. Curated by bo.lee projects, ‘Odyssey’ brings together seven art works brings together a collection of artworks which meditate upon the fragility, as well as the infinite possibility, of human existence. The works, situated in a series of resonant spaces within the Abbey, will inspire new responses, both to the sacred spaces and to the works themselves. Alan Garrow, Vicar Theologian at Bath Abbey comments: “Bath Abbey is an astonishing space, and one in which it has always been possible to explore the big issues: who we are, where we’ve come from and where we’re going. This exhibition, brilliantly brought together by bo.lee projects, adds an extra sharpness to that experience by provoking questions such as: ‘what am I giving my life for?’, ‘what good can come out of sacrifice?’, or ‘where do earth and heaven meet in my daily experience?’. It’s an amazing exhibition and one that promises to live long in the memory. We urge Bath locals to come and enjoy their Abbey, and to experience this landmark moment in the city’s engagement with contemporary art.” To read the full story click here.
		BATH ABBEY APPOINTS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT MANAGER Bath Abbey has appointed Dr Oliver Taylor as Project Manager for ‘Creating Voices’, an 18-month oral history project which will gather, preserve, and share the stories of the many individuals who helped care for or restore the Abbey between 1942 and 2000. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Friends of Bath Abbey. Dr Taylor brings with him a wealth of experience, having completed degrees in English Literature from Durham University. He also has valuable experience of managing oral history projects for Gloucestershire Archives. In addition to his part-time position at the Abbey, Dr Taylor will continue to work simultaneously on a project which tells the story of Gloucester’s pioneering engineering firm Fielding and Platt, manufacturers of Britain’s first vacuum cleaner and the paving slab machines that helped to pave most of the country. His role at Bath Abbey will involve managing volunteers from the Abbey and Heritage students from Bath Spa University who will record the memories of stonemasons, sculptors, stained glass window conservators and the many others who have been involved in work on the Abbey’s fabric over the years. There has already been a great amount of interest in the project and people are beginning to come forward to share their memories. To read more click here.
		Bath Abbey receives Council's go ahead for Phase 1 of Footprint project Bath Abbey has today been granted planning permission and listed building consent by Bath and North East Somerset Council. Councillors on the Development Control Committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of plans to improve public and ancillary support facilities at the Abbey, which includes a new Song School, alterations to Kingston Buildings, the 1920s Jackson Extension to Bath Abbey, the Clergy Vestry and adjoining vaults and cellars. Seven years of consultation, planning and work have resulted in the current plans with 444 people recording their support for the project on the B&NES website. Edward Mason, Rector of Bath Abbey, said: “We are thrilled to have been given planning permission, and are especially grateful for the warm encouragement and professional cooperation we have received. The vote is indicative of the strength of partnership of the Abbey with B&NES and many other organisations in the centre of Bath a shining example of how people can work together for the community’s good.” Charles Curnock, Director of the Footprint project, said “This is a very significant day for the Abbey, for the Council and the city. We can promise you that we’ll continue to work closely with B&NES and all who long to see the Abbey and our community flourish. A huge amount of consultation, discussion and listening has gone into this and we’re very grateful to everyone for their contributions. Together, we want to protect the fabric of this precious building and to make it a space for everyone: and this is a big step towards this goal.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Chief Exec of Bath Tourism Plus with Charles Curnock raising our new and improved Diocesan flag		Flying the Bath & Wells Diocese flag On Tuesday 5 March at 1.30pm, an unofficial flag-raising ceremony took place at Bath Abbey as the flag from the top of the Tower was replaced with a new one. Charles Curnock from Bath Abbey said: “The Bath & Wells Diocesan flag is flown from the top of the Abbey Tower every day come wind, rain or shine. Unfortunately this has meant it has taken quite a bit of battering over the years from Mother Nature, and despite several repairs is now looking worse for wear. One of the people who has made a point of mentioning this to us was Nick Brooks-Sykes, Chief Exec of Bath Tourism Plus, so we invited Nick to help us raise the new and larger version.” To read the full story click here. Photo courtesy of Alan Morley.
Over 500 school children taking part in African dancing and drumming at the Abbey		OVER 500 SCHOOL CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN MUSIC WORKSHOP AT BATH ABBEY For the third year running, 500 pupils from 11 local primary and secondary schools will be singing, dancing and beat boxing at Bath Abbey as part of the Schools’ Singing Programme’s annual workshop. On Monday 25 and Tuesday 26 February (9.30am-3.20pm), the students will be taking part in a series of activities designed to get the children to enjoy singing as a group, experience different musical genres and to develop good singing and performance techniques. Both days end with a concert at which the children come together to showcase their newly acquired skills. Participating schools include Freshford C of E Primary; King Edward’s Secondary; St Julian’s Primary, Wellow; Weston All Saints Primary; King Edward’s Pre-Prep; St Andrew’s C of E Primary; Widcombe Junior; St John’s C of E Primary, Keynsham; St Philip’s C of E Junior; St Stephen’s CEVA Primary and High Littleton C of E Primary. To read the full story click here.
		BATH ABBEY’S DIRECTOR OF MUSIC CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY BY MAKING A DIFFERENCE Peter King, Bath Abbey’s Director of Music, celebrated his 60^th birthday with a charity concert which raised over £5,400. The audience comprised members of the public, family and friends who generously donated money to Macmillan Cancer Trust, Dorothy House Hospice and the Genesis Trust with each of the three charities receiving £1,806. Peter said: “I wanted to celebrate by doing what I enjoy most, which apart from dog walking, is playing the organ! It has been touching to see how generous people have been and I am sure the charities will put the money to good use.” To read the full story click here.
Abbey volunteers at last year's Thanksgiving service and meal for volunteers		ABBEY COMMUNITY GIFTS £200,000 OF TIME TO CITY Bath Abbey’s community contributes over 28,000 voluntary hours per year – with a third of their time dedicated to good causes across the city. In financial terms, it would have cost the Abbey and the city the equivalent of £209,583 last year, based on the Living Wage. A survey conducted by the Abbey showed that its congregation contributes 345 hours per week to the Abbey alone. With activities as wide-ranging as welcoming visitors and stewarding concerts to running children’s groups and supporting services, the smooth running of the Abbey is made possible by a large and dedicated team of volunteers. The Abbey’s volunteers are equally generous when it comes to donating their time outside the Abbey itself devoting 195 hours per week to other local charities and organisations. To read the full story click here. If you would like to find out about volunteering at Bath Abbey, please contact Dawn Farmer, Visitors’ Officer: 01225 303310 or email: visits@bathabbey.org.
Hayward & Wooster stonemasonry team on the Abbey tower replacing worn stone with a new Clipsham block, May 1952		Bath Abbey receives HLF funding for Creating Voices: An oral history project Bath Abbey has been awarded £22,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting oral history project, ‘Creating Voices’, designed to capture the stories of the many individuals who were involved in caring for the Abbey’s fabric or who worked on restoring the present Abbey building. Further funding of £7,000 has been provided by the Friends of Bath Abbey bringing the project total to £29,200. Working in conjunction with Bath Spa University, the ‘Creating Voices’ project will collect and present people’s stories from over a 60-year period of the Abbey’s rich and inspiring history, from the 1942 Bath Blitz, which provided the impetus for the 13 year post-war restoration of the Abbey, up to the end of the Abbey 2000 Restoration. To find out more, click here.
		Wednesday 23 January - Weather update The Abbey is open for visiting as usual today, despite the snow. The shop's open too and at the moment you can even climb the Tower. We're planning usual opening hours and Tower Tours on the hour from 11am - 3pm though if the weather deteriorates we might have to rethink - updates will be posted here.
		Tuesday snow update for Abbey Choirs There will be no Choir Practice tonight (Tuesday 22nd January) due to heavy snow forecast and local schools closing early.
		Friday 18 January - Snow Day! Despite snow, we are open today for prayers and visitors. (See the door in the bottom left hand corner!) Abbey Shop's also open but Tower Tours are not running as it's too slippery.