Step Inside, Be Surprised at Nottingham Cathedral this Summer

With Summer here well and truly here, Nottingham Cathedral recently launched‘Step Inside, Be Surprised’ an interactive photography campaign designed to encourage people to engage with the Cathedral’s unique heritage offer, in the heart of Nottingham.

This simple visual campaign draws inspiration from AWN Pugin’s plan for the Cathedral. Designed and built in the early years of Catholic emancipation, in a context of continued anti-Catholic hostility, the Church was deliberately designed to have a plain stone, unassuming exterior. Then when visitors or worshippers stepped inside, they would be immersed in a world of rich Catholic beauty; a riot of colour, decorative design and other features all designed to transport them back to the glory of Catholicism in the Middle Ages. Over the decades much of this decoration has been lost, though plans are now well underway to restore Pugin’s original decorative paint schemes to the Cathedral’s East-End.

180 years later, the Cathedral’s interiors still have the ability to surprise when one steps inside. From decorative paint schemes, stunning stained glass, ornate stonework and many other treasures- the Cathedral still has the ability to inspire wonder and awe into unsuspecting visitors as the come through the doors for the first time or, indeed, after multiple visits! Many people pass the Cathedral daily, yet many people have yet to visit this Pugin treasure on Nottingham’s heritage scene.

#StepInsideBeSuprised, our inaugural Summer campaign, encourages people to visit the Cathedral and allow themselves to be surprised by what they find inside. Visitors are encouraged to capture these moments on film, sharing them on social media for others to enjoy. Whether you just love snapping pics on your phone, are an amateur or professional photographer, we can’t wait to see your photos this Summer.

Tag @nottinghamcathedral #discovernottinghamcathedral #StepInsideBeSurprised on your posts and the Cathedral team will take the best photos, showcase them on its social media channels/website and we will share some history or fun facts about your upload. The twelve best photos of the campaign will be used as part of an exhibition inside the Cathedral later this Autumn… Will yours be among them?

The Campaign runs from 16th July-12th September. The Cathedral is open daily from 7am-7pm. Entry to the Cathedral is FREE and all are most welcome.

Activities of the Campaign:

• You share your favourite images- we will share some history or fun facts about your uploads on our social channels or website.
• A new set of professional photographs of the Cathedral has been commissioned and will be produced by Luke Potter.
• An exclusive Instagram hangout for Nottingham-based local photographers/heritage lovers/influencers: Invite Only
• A set of activities for children and young people linked to the campaign's theme on Thursday 8th August, 10am-4pm Cathedral Hall.