Create and Discover ’21 – arty crafts inspired by artefacts

Challenge 3 – Illuminate

World Book Day falls on 4th March 2021 and to celebrate we have taken inspiration for our next challenge from Rochester’s most famous book, Textus Roffensis, which was handwritten by a monk living here in the 12th century. Textus Roffensis means Book of Rochester and it has links to Magna Carta! You can find out more about this special book on another page on our website.

Textus Roffensis is usually on display in the crypt exhibition space. When the Cathedral is open again, come and see it for yourself. In the meantime, explore Textus page by page online.

The Challenge

One page of Textus Roffensis has an illumination, a decorated letter R at the start of the word Regnante (which means reigning). The decoration includes a person, possibly Jesus, and 3 mythical dragon-like creatures.

For this challenge we’d like you to create your own illumination. Choose a word which means something to you, perhaps R for Rochester, H for hope, L for love, S for spring, your name or any other special word. Write the first letter of the word and then decorate it before writing the other letters. Choose colours and images which tell us something about the word and what it means to you. See if you can make your design “illuminate” the word’s meaning.

We’d love to see photos of your illuminations and perhaps publish some on our website and Facebook page. If you would like to share your creation with us then please email a photo of it to  educationofficer@rochestercathedral.org

If you are under the age of 13, ask an adult to do this for you.

About Create and Discover 21 

Welcome to Rochester Cathedral’s brand-new venture, CD21!

CD21 stands for Create and Discover ’21. Throughout 2021 we’ll take you on a journey of discovery around Rochester Cathedral and set 21 creative challenges as we go. CD21 is open to everyone! You can take part as a family, an individual, use it as part of home learning, or just as a bit of fun.

Each fortnight we will set you a creative challenge inspired by something found in the Cathedral – an arty-craft inspired by an artefact! When the Cathedral re-opens, pop in and see if you can spot these beautiful objects in the building and find out a little more about them.

You won’t need any special equipment to take part, just ordinary things you have at home. Newspaper, old cardboard boxes, sticky tape or glue, pencils or crayons – just use what you can find.

We’d love you to share images of your finished work on our Facebook page (younger folk, please ask an adult to do this for you).