Trying out stitching, having a go at stone carving, and seeing weavers, spinners, dyers, embroiderers and lacemakers in action are just three of the many activities, exhibitions and installations you can discover at ‘Crafting the Cathedral’, taking place
on Saturday 12th July 2025 at Bradford Cathedral.
Running from 11am – 2pm it's entirely free to attend and open to everyone, with an additional paid-for tour for those wanting to delve deeper into the textile and craft heritage of the Cathedral.
The event is part of the city-wide Bradford Heritage Festival taking place over that weekend, as well as being part of the Cathedral’s “Weaving Stories” project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
You can:
- Take part in free colouring and craft activities available for children
- See the West Riding Stone Carvers Association demonstrating their craft in the Cathedral grounds and there will be the opportunity to have a go yourself
- Test your knowledge with the Natural Dyeing Quiz, having a go at matching the wool to the plant
- Try your hand at embroidery stitching and simple card weaving
- See Who Made My Clothes?:The International Feltmakers’ Association, Yorkshire Branch, will be exhibiting work about the ethics of the fashion trade.
- And the Bradford Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers and Cathedral Stitchers continue their activities from Friday
There will also be a special paid guided Craft Tour at 12noon, which will give you extra information about some of the Cathedral’s beautifully crafted features, objects and textiles.
Alongside these special pop-up activities, you can also:
- Weave your story into the Cathedral’s loom at the West End as part of the on-going tapestry project
- View the Knit The Stripes installation, a 15-metre-long warming stripe display that charts our changing temperature from the 1850s to the present.
- See Woven Lives, a powerful artwork using woven coloured glass and symbols, lit from within, telling the lives and stories of the people of Bradford.
Maggie Myers, Director of Education and Visitors at Bradford Cathedral, says:
“This is going to be a fantastic two-day craft heritage event, celebrating Bradford and the Cathedral’s textile heritage. We will have skilled craftspeople practising their crafts, opportunities for people to join in themselves and a number of interesting exhibitions
linked to textiles and other crafts.
“By booking onto one of the special tours, there is also the opportunity to look more closely at the magnificent textiles, stained glass and other crafted pieces in the building. We can’t wait to offer this one-off special event!”
Vicky Clifton, Executive Director of Bradford Heritage Connection says:
“We are thrilled that Crafting at the Cathedral is a key part of the Festival programme. The heritage crafts of weaving and stone masonry in the magnificent setting of our Cathedral, honours our rich cultural heritage in Bradford but also connects local communities
and visitors to the craftsmanship that has shaped our history.”
ou can find out more, download the flyer, and book your place(s) on the tour at https://bradfordcathedral.org.uk/event/crafting-the-cathedral/.