ARTISTS from the age of six upwards can compete to design recent misericords for Exeter Cathedral.
The Modern Misericords project will complement conservation work to be carried out on the 49 examples within the back row of the choir stalls — carved within the mid-Thirteenth century, and considered one of the oldest surviving sets in England.
William Barsley, a standard woodcarver, will create misericords from the winning designs in 4 categories: primary school, secondary school, college, and 18-plus. Entrants have a template to work on, and might submit their design on paper or online.
Their creations will likely be be dropped at life as carved seats in the brand new Treasures Gallery exhibition space. Entrants are invited to offer their design “a contemporary twist to make it unique to you. In your design, why not show an activity you enjoy, or something vital to you?” Submission forms will be downloaded from the cathedral website.
The cathedral is working with the Meon Survey Partnership Ltd to provide digital scans that may record the precise condition of every seat. The work, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a component of the cathedral’s 2020 Development Appeal Project.
