Sacred art will be on display at Buckfast Abbey this weekend, August 31 and September 1, as part of the abbey’s millennium celebrations.

The Festival of Sacred Art will include a talk about the new millennium vestments from Dr Susan Kay-Williams. Dr Kay-Williams is Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework, which made the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress.

The two-day festival of talks and tours forms part of the year-long celebrations taking place at the abbey to mark 1000-years since the monastery’s foundation in 1018.

Tomorrow, August 31, Dr Caroline Farey, a well-known lecturer in catholic higher education, will be giving two talks, on Scripture and Sacred Art and Sacred Art Western and Eastern Traditions. Following the talks there’ll be tours of Buckfast Abbey art given by Abbot David and Fr Thomas Regan.

On Saturday, September 1, alongside Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Devon-based sculpture artist, Isabel Coulton, will be giving a talk on sculpting. Isabel created the abbey’s newest statue of the Madonna, which is situated near the entrance to the grounds of the abbey.

A further talk will be given by Sister Judith, from the Vatican Media Project. The talk will focus on the work of the Vatican Media Project which, during the past 50 years, has enabled the major world religion to share ideas. This collaboration led to a film, The Leaven of the Good, which Buckfast Abbey’s media department helped to produce. Dr Caroline Farey will round off the day with a talk on the power of the decorative arts in the Christian life.

Abbot David Charlesworth, of Buckfast Abbey, said: ‘We believe this festival will provide a unique insight into the power of art to enhance religious life and complements the beauty of the music encountered in the liturgy. In our millennium year we give thanks to God and the many events we have planned all reflect our joy in being able to share this with everyone.’