Current Exhibitions
Throughout the year, Ushaw runs a series of exhibitions, ranging from accounts of the more notable of our alumni, through to art exhibitions of different themes. Visitors can come and see our exhibitions during standard opening hours. Our current exhibitions are detailed below, along with the dates between which they are here:
Hand in hand: The artistic and spiritual life of Dame Werburg Welch (1894-1990)
Eileen Grace Welch entered the Benedictine Stanbrook Abbey in 1915 at the age of twenty, receiving the name of Werburg. Before entering Stanbrook she had trained at Bournemouth and Bristol Art School’s and on taking religious vows she was encouraged to continue her artistic career becoming known for her vestment designs, paintings and carvings. Having corresponded with Eric Gill and Desmond Chute her artistic style reflected the popular art-deco movement of the early 20th century. Often cited anonymously ‘A Benedictine of Stanbrook’, this exhibition will reveal the life and work of a truly hidden talent of our nation and will include textiles, paintings, wood carvings and prints.
5 April to 29 June
Life at Ushaw
A new display giving an insight into the day to day life of the different people living here when Ushaw was a seminary and boarding school. Visitors can find out more about the lessons that were taught, the sports that were played and the army of domestic workers that were needed to keep such a vast estate running.
Throughout the exhibition visitors can listen to the stories, experiences and recollections of the people who worked or studied at Ushaw from the College professors to the housemaids who worked in the laundry. These have been collected as part of our oral history project Divine Voices which has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Faith in Exile
In 1568, the small textile town of Douai in Northern France was transformed into a hub of intrigue and rebellion. During the reign of Elizabeth I, the Catholic religion was outlawed and harbouring a Catholic Priest was made punishable by death. As a result, English Catholics had to practice their faith in secret, with many fleeing to the safety of Catholic Europe. This included William Allen, a former member of Queen Mary I government and later Cardinal in the Catholic Church. Allen wanted to make sure the Catholic faith was kept alive in England and therefore established Douai College as a school and seminary for English Catholics.
Douai College became a centre for plots against the Tudor and Stuart governments and sent numerous missionaries secretly back to England with many becoming martyrs to the cause. During the French Revolution, war with England led to the students being forced to leave the College in fear of their lives. By the 18th century laws against Catholicism started to relax in England which meant the student body could return and subsequently establish Ushaw College in the North and St. Edmund’s Ware in the South.
As of the 5th of July 2018, the silver has been moved into our chapels.
Chris Younger
The Chris Younger Photography Exhibition 'Ambiguity and Uncertainty in the Deerness Valley' started 19th April 2018, end time currently to be confirmed. Images will be on display along the corridor leading between the gallery and the refectory, with some prints available in our gift shop.
Shield of Faith - Ushaw College at War
