Events
The Traherne Festival 6th – 8th June 2026
This year’s Traherne Festival begins on Saturday 6th June at Credenhill Church (5 miles NW of Hereford) – where Traherne was minister – with a Prayer Book Communion service at 9.30am followed by talks and presentations at the church and a lovely catered lunch at nearby Stretton Sugwas Village Hall. We begin with talks by two internationally-renowned Traherne scholars, Dr Keith Clements on ‘As for the Anabaptists, that abhor the baptising of infants …’ and Dr Julia Smith on ‘How to look at an insect: Traherne and the smallest life in all nature’. The Festival then changes gear as folk singer/songwriter Deborah Rose talks about her personal journey into the poetry of Traherne, and historical dance expert and dancer Anne Francis speaks about the type of dancing that prompted one of Traherne’s meditations, describing its history and showing some videos.
On Sunday we move to the Traherne family church, All Saints Hereford for a eucharist at 9.30 led by the Bishop of Hereford with Dr Sean Cathie preaching. American scholar Dr Jacob Blevins will then lead a close reading of one of Traherne’s poems, before we share another tasty lunch. Finally Bishop David Thomson will interview three artists about their work on Traherne themes, before leading our AGM and Evensong.
The Monday sees us enjoying a day out in Ledbury with guided visits to places dating back to Traherne’s times and lunch at The Feathers.
Advance booking, by 18th May, is essential.
Please email Hilary Rosanciewicz if you need any further information.
An archive of recordings from previous Festivals is also available:
- 2025 Beth Dodd, Robert Walker, Janet Wootton
- 2024 Bishop David Thomson, Dr Peter Auger, The Very Rev’d Michael Tavinor, and Daniel T Haase
- 2023 Dr Cassandra Gorman, Prof Helen Wilcox, and Dr Julia Smith.
- 2022 Professor Jacob Blevins, Thomas Clifton, Dominic Gwynn
The Jeremy Maule lecture
Thomas Traherne, Hereford’s poet priest, was buried on 10 October in 1674 and is celebrated both in the Church of England’s calendar and by the annual Jeremy Maule lecture.
The 2026 Lecture will be given by Professor Alister McGrath on “Enjoying the World: Thomas Traherne and C. S. Lewis on Discerning God in Nature” and will be given at the Bishop’s Palace in Hereford on Saturday 10th October at 3pm. Booking (which is essential) will open in the late summer.
Joint Study Day
The inaugural Joint Study Day with the Vaughan Association was held at Hay Castle on Saturday 6th September. It was addressed by Professor Carol Ann Johnston, Dr Cassie Gorman, Hilary Davies, and Thomas Denny.