Apostolic Nuncio opens Liverpool exhibition

His Excellency, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muņoz, officially opened the Held in Trust exhibition in Liverpool on 30 July.  The Apostolic Nuncio was accompanied by Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool and his two auxiliary bishops, Vincent Malone and Thomas Williams, as well as the British Jesuit Provincial, Father Michael Holman SJ.

The exhibition at St Francis Xavier's Church (known familiarly as SFX) is being staged to celebrate Liverpool's role as 2008 European Capital of Culture.  On show are artefacts from Stonyhurst College, complemented by embroideries and church plate from SFX's own beautiful collection.  The objects are on display in the nave of the stunning St Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool, a Victorian Grade 2* listed building.

The opening of Held in Trust was marked by a concert of 17th century music, including a number of works never before heard in public.  It was performed by the newly formed Cappella Fede ensemble. (Click on link above to read more.)

Stonyhurst College was founded on the continent by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) during a period of religious upheaval in Britain.  At that time, many people asked the Jesuits to look after their most precious religious objects - 'until such times as they could be used again'.  These beautiful artefacts are still in the care of the Jesuits and many of them are on show to the public for the first time.

The exhibition is divided into various categories or historical periods, with such objects as a book of Homilies of Pope Gregory from 1170, St Thomas More's hat and gold crucifix, a 1420 Book of Hours from Paris, amongst the display illustrating the medieval period.  The Reformation section includes a vestment made for the opening of Henry VII's chapel in Westminster Abbey, Elizabeth Plantagenet's Books of Hours, Katherine of Aragon's chasuble, Cardinal Wolsey's Book of Hours and the relic of the Holy Thorn for which Sainte Chapelle in Paris was built.

To find out more about the exhibition, click on the link below.


 Held in Trust