Anchorhold
Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage
National Cathedral, Washington DC
November 1-30, 2023
Crypt, National Cathedral of Washington DC
Anchorhold is a temporary installation in the crypt of Washington’s National Cathedral, where visitors were invited to engage in contemporary and historic contemplative practices. The project was hosted by the Cathedral's Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage to mark the 650th anniversary of the spiritual visions of Julian of Norwich. A medieval theologian and recluse, Julian lived in a solitary chamber attached to a church, known as an anchorhold, and wrote the earliest surviving English language text by a woman.
An 8 x 8’ enclosure was constructed next to St. Dunstan’s chapel. Dimly lit and lined with natural linen, the cell was furnished with a writing desk and chair, and open to one visitor at a time. The Center Library offered a series of self-directed activities including meditative reading, responsive writing, and mindful drawing. Public events included labyrinth walks, a poetry workshop, and a communal reading of Julian's Revelations of Divine Love. I was present in the Center for seven days, welcoming visitors and performing Consumed, a durational work exploring medieval reading practices.
Julian’s cell in Norwich, England
Anchorhold in Washington DC
Communal recording of Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love
Altered book, Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
ed. Grace Warrack (London: Methuen & Co., 1901)
Oil pastel, watercolor, collage, graphite, gold leaf. 5¼ x 7½ x 1 inch
Installation images by Lee Stalsworth, Laura Litten and Thomas Whalen
All Shall Be Well textile by Terri Lynn Simpson and Carol Woodside
Julian of Norwich: a Brief Reading Guide bibliographic supplement by James Estes
The communal recording of Revelations of Divine Love was made by friends and members of the Cathedral community as an abridged version of Julian of Norwich’s Long Text, which is in the public domain.