The Bury Psalter, a beautifully illuminated book of Psalms which dates from around 1400 and which was made and used at the Abbey, will be on display here at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in a partnership with Suffolk Archives. To celebrate its return to the Abbey site, an evening of music will showcase its history on 21 April at 7.00 pm in St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

For centuries, the sound of sacred songs being sung by medieval monks would have filled the atmosphere at the Abbey in Bury St Edmunds. This one-off special event is an opportunity to experience what that might have sounded like. Starting with a performance of some music from the Psalter, early music experts Hexachordia will then take the audience on a journey through music of the medieval era, played on authentic copies of instruments of the time including the harp, vielle, gittern and psaltery.

The Bury Psalter is a Latin manuscript written for, and used by, the Abbey of St Edmund. It includes the Psalms (150 religious songs from the Old Testament), a list of Saints, and hymns. It is one of only two books from the medieval library of the Abbey of St Edmund known to remain in the town and is on loan by kind permission of the King Edward VI Grammar School Foundation Trust. It will be on display to the public from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 April in the Cathedral Treasury from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 12.00 pm to 3.00 pm on Sunday. Visits are free of charge.

In addition, on Saturday morning in the Cathedral there will be family-friendly crafts inspired by the Psalter. These activities are for children aged 5-11 and their families, all children must be accompanied. The activities will be free of charge, just drop in and all are welcome from 10.30 am – 12.30 pm.

Tickets for an Evening of Music Inspired by the Bury Psalter on 21 April at 7.00 pm are £10.00 and can be booked here.