On 20 January 2016, a group of Cirencester residents (the Abbey 900 steering group) launched its first public event, to organise a festival for 2017 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the Founding of Cirencester’s Abbey of St Mary.

The event had broad support from a number of organisations, including Cirencester Development Trust and Cirencester Town council and it was announced that the Right Reverend Rachel Treweek has kindly agreed to be the Festival Patron.

Attendance was excellent. There were 44 participants including representatives from local business, community and interest groups, museums and the arts, the church, police, the army, local land-owners as well as CCDT, CTC and CDC. This meant that there was standing room only as local interested people from all sectors of the community came together to consider how they might create a memorable community festival with a lasting legacy.

The consultation event was delivered in two phases: first, the group brainstormed the events that would occur in 2017 that could be themed with Abbey 900. The group was then asked to consider other potential events.

At the conclusion of the consultation exercise, it was agreed through a show of hands to hold a second event to decide which projects to progress and how they should be taken forward. Additional stakeholders would be brought into the project and funding and leadership would be considered at that time.

2017 Calendar of events in Cirencester

January

/ Anniversary Peel of Bells (250th Anniversary of the bells being hung)

February

/ Croome Lecture (CAHS/Civic Society talk in Parish Church - will be Abbey Related) / Bishop Rachel Formal Opening

March

/ Half Term / Start of Hare Festival

April

/ International Organ Festival / Easter

May

/ International Organ Festival / Choral Society Concert / Operatic Society Performance / Begin of Bands in the Park

June

/ Cirencester College Arts Festival (in town and on campus) / Patronal Festival of St. John (Bishop Rachel to preach sermon) / Open Farm Sunday / Flower Festival in Parish Church

July

/ Cotswold Show (1-2 July) / Love Parks Week / Preston Fete / Dance Academy Show / Summer in Cirencester / Festival of Archaeology

August

/ Phoenix Festival / Rugby Club Beer Festival / Steam Fair in South Cerney

September

/ Murder in the Cathedral / Fashion Show – 21st Sept / Heritage Open Day / Athletic Club Half Marathon / Bishop Rachel Closing Service and Community Supper

October

/ MOP Fair / Operatic Society Performance

November

/ Choral Society Concert / Vintage Fair at Abbey Home Farm / Advent Festival / Fireworks Display

December

/ College carol concert / Church Festivals

Event title

/

General description

Abbey Grounds Photo competition

/ Yearlong competition for photos and short films of the Abbey Grounds. To be judged in an exhibition at the end of the year. Hosted on Twitter feed and Facebook page

Human Library Event

/ One-day event where local experts are "on loan" for short individual talks and question and answer to educate about the Abbey

Story Carpet

/ Display the Story Carpet which was created when the Town Hall renovation took place

Son et Lumiere

/ Light and sound display

Children's Pageant or Carnival

/ Children from all schools to enact events from Abbey's history as a parade or performance

Historical Re-enactment

/ Historical re-enactment of key events in the Abbey's history as a performance
Civil War re-enactment group

Plain Chant Workshop

/ Half Day workshop lead by French Augustinian Monks to learn Plain Chant. Performance in the Parish Church?

Medieval cycle mystery play

/ Following example of York Mystery Plays, put on productions to illustrate key stories from the Abbey's history

Children's special curriculum events

/ Special supporting material for primary and secondary education to enable local children to better appreciate the historic, economic and social history of the town in which they live.

Spatial understanding of the Abbey and its grounds

/ Use of physical markers to understand the location and size of the Abbey and its surrounding grounds using physical clues such as hay bales or willow. Also use 3D modelling and CAD to help modern people understand the past.

Legacy document

/ Create a document or website to collect images and text from all activities; events and outputs from Abbey 900 in Cirencester

Stone Carving

/ Stone carving event with possible workshops

Norman Arch Medicine Garden

/ Create an authentic medieval medicinal garden outside the Normal Arch Cottage