In this members' exclusive lecture, Rachel will explore the women who shaped the built and material fabric of Britain's churches. From queens and noblewoman to gentry and townswomen, women are a ubiquitous yet often overlooked presence in archival and material sources as patrons and donors of churches and other religious buildings and establishments. As such, they influenced the physical and social fabric of these buildings and left behind significant artistic and cultural legacies. Drawing on wide-reaching examples encompassing cathedrals, collegiate foundations and parish churches from across the British Isles, this talk will show how and why women left their mark on churches, and why they are such a valuable resource for understanding medieval women’s lives today.

Rachel is a historian and research partnerships professional working at the intersection of academia and heritage. She has published and taught widely on the late medieval and early Tudor periods, specialising in the areas of women’s and gender history, and material, place-based and spatial approaches. More specifically, her research examines women’s contributions to the built environment — from castles and great residences to townhouses, almshouses and schools — as expressions of gendered authority, power and agency. Rachel’s recent publications have explored the afterlives of pre-modern buildings with dominant female narratives in modern-day settings and contexts. Alongside her academic research, Rachel is active as a public and community historian and a heritage consultant. Her research has featured in Le Monde and the New York Times, and she enjoys writing for Tudor Places magazine and the Conversation UK.

Vikki Jenner, our host for this evening, will begin the lecture by exploring two churches in the Lake District, St. Wilfrid’s and St. Ninian’s in Cumbria: https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-churches/st-wilfreds-church-brougham-cumbria
https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-churches/st-ninians-church-brougham-cumbria

Our churches cost on average £2,500 per year to keep them clean, carry out conservation work, conduct maintenance checks, and ensure they are in a safe condition for visitors to enjoy. Please help us to keep our churches open by donating a gift of £5 or £10. You can donate quickly and easily to any of the churches mentioned today by texting the numbers below or visiting our donation page. Your generous donation will help us to protect a beautiful part of local and national heritage. You can make a donation to these churches by donating via this link here: https://www.visitchurches.org.uk/get-involved/donation.