We’re taking part in England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Heritage Open Days at The Guild Chapel 6 – 15 September, 2024
Deep in the archives of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust lies a magnificent document belonging to the Guild Chapel of the Holy Cross - a Letter of Indulgence, granted by the Archbishop of Jerusalem, and dated in Rome in 1300 AD. In keeping with this year’s Heritage Open Day theme of 'routes, networks and connections' the Guild Chapel will be mapping out the route the Guild members may have taken to Rome to acquire it, and will explain how ‘Indulgences’ were a key part of medieval religious belief.
We will be displaying a banner that features an image of the Letter of Indulgence, which has never been shared publicly before! The letter of Indulgence offers a window to our shared medieval past, reflecting the religious norms of that time. It also points to later changes in religious understanding, reflected in Reformation era Stratford both in the built fabric of the Guild Chapel and the religious diversity from that time. The banner will be on display throughout Heritage Week (6th – 15th Sept), and two of our wonderful guides will be giving a free talk at 1pm on the 10th of September if you’d like to go along and find out more about this fascinating artefact.