A celebration of craft, heritage and community spirit will take over Bradford Cathedral this July as it hosts Crafting the Cathedral, a two-day event packed with hands-on activities, demonstrations and exhibitions. Taking place on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 July 2025, the event forms part of the wider Bradford Heritage Festival and highlights the city’s rich legacy in textiles, weaving, and craftsmanship.
A Festival for Craft Lovers and Curious Visitors
Running from 11am to 2pm on both days, the event is free to attend and promises a welcoming and engaging experience for all ages. Friday will appeal especially to those interested in traditional textile arts and techniques, while Saturday is designed with families and children in mind.
Friday 11 July: A Day for Crafters
On Friday, visitors can explore a range of textile crafts and heritage displays, including:
- Demonstrations by the Bradford Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, featuring spinning wheels, Turkish spindles, and live weaving
- A look at the work of Stitching@Bradford Cathedral, currently creating William Morris-inspired kneelers for the Lady Chapel
- A chance to try European and global embroidery stitches
- Demonstrations of intricate bobbin lace making by the Craven Guild of Lacemakers
Also available on the day are two Ecclesiastical Textiles Tours at 11am and 1pm, offering a closer look at the Cathedral’s historic and beautifully crafted textile collection. These tours are paid and require booking.
Saturday 12 July: Family Activities and Stone Carving
Saturday focuses on family-friendly activities and offers plenty to keep younger visitors engaged. Highlights include:
- Free colouring and craft stations for children
- Live stone carving with the West Riding Stone Carvers Association, with a chance to try the tools
- A fun and educational Natural Dyeing Quiz
- Hands-on embroidery and card weaving activities
- An exhibition by the International Feltmakers’ Association (Yorkshire Branch), exploring ethics in the global fashion trade
- Continued demonstrations from Friday’s spinners, weavers and stitchers
A special Craft Tour at 12 noon provides deeper insight into the Cathedral’s hidden craftwork, textiles, and stone features. This is a paid experience and requires booking in advance.
Exhibitions and Installations
Across both days, visitors can also enjoy:
- Contributing to the Cathedral’s loom as part of the ongoing tapestry project
- Viewing Knit The Stripes, a 15-metre-long knitted installation depicting climate change through historical temperature data
- Seeing Woven Lives, an artwork of illuminated coloured glass and symbolic weaving that tells the stories of Bradford’s people
A Celebration of Craft and Culture
Maggie Myers, Director of Education and Visitors at Bradford Cathedral, said:
“This is going to be a fantastic two-day craft heritage event, celebrating Bradford and the Cathedral’s textile heritage. We will have skilled craftspeople practising their crafts, opportunities for people to join in themselves and a number of interesting exhibitions linked to textiles and other crafts.”
Vicky Clifton, Executive Director of Bradford Heritage Connection, added:
“The heritage crafts of weaving and stone masonry in the magnificent setting of our Cathedral honours our rich cultural heritage in Bradford and connects local communities and visitors to the craftsmanship that has shaped our history.”
Plan Your Visit
Crafting the Cathedral takes place on Friday 11 July and Saturday 12 July 2025, from 11am to 2pm. Entry is free, but some tours require booking.
