Southwell Minster hosts family Easter trail incorporating Jacqui Parkinson’s Threads through the Bible exhibition

A cathedral’s interactive family trail has told the Easter story through an amazing exhibition.

Southwell Minster is currently host to textile artist Jacqui Parkinson’s Threads Through the Bible exhibition.

Across 44 huge panels and 25 million stitches the viewer is guided from the first pages of the Bible in Threads through Creation, through key moments in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection in Threads through the Cross, to the extraordinary visions of the last book in the Bible, in Threads through Revelation.

It offers viewers a chance to reflect on the events of Holy Week leading into Good Friday — and this was explored with young people through a morning of activities.

Canon Richard Frith said: “The aim is to help tell the story to people who might not have heard it before. It’s not just a story in an old building — it’s at the centre of the universe for us, and we want to share that.”

On Good Friday (April 18) children and families got to explore the artworks in a new light to learn about Easter.

Along the 40-minute trail, there was the opportunity to meet some of the people from the Easter story, who talked about what happened on the first Good Friday.

Vicky Thorpe, who portrayed Mary, said the event was designed to be approachable for all: “It’s part of our offer to children and families to help them understand the Easter story, even for those who might not come from a Christian faith, it helps explain where ours comes from.

“There’s something in this story for everyone.”

The family-friendly event saw several families throughout the morning, including Holly Long and her five-year-old daughter Bella who agreed the event was great for families and that more events of this type should take place.

There was also crafts for children to complete.

Mellissa Scofield, who was with children at the crafts table said: “It is important to get people into the Minster because some people think it is such an exclusive formal place that they can’t come.

“We have seen people here that we have never seen, so it is also great to promote what we have in Southwell.”