Exeter Cathedral to host Northern European Cathedrals Conference 2026
Exeter Cathedral is set to host the next Northern European Cathedrals Conference (NECC) in February 2026.
Tailored for professionals and stakeholders from cathedrals across the region, the conference provides opportunities to discuss the shared themes and challenges of cathedral ministry. Typically occurring every other year, NECC attracts delegates from the Porvoo Communion (Lutheran churches of Scandinavia, Iceland, the Baltic and Germany, and the Anglican churches of Britain and Ireland) and the Netherlands.
Taking place from 3-6 February 2026, the conference in Exeter will draw on the theme of ‘Cathedrals: Seats of Wisdom’ and will explore cathedrals as places of Northern European identity and culture, wisdom and rootedness.
Lars Åstrand, Chair of the NECC Standing Committee, and Canon Precentor and Vice-Dean at Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden, looks forward to visiting Exeter for the conference:
“For cathedrals all over Northern Europe, the NECC has been an immense source of inspiration for many years. Meeting in the historic cathedral of Exeter and getting to know its work promises an exciting opportunity for a very rewarding conference in 2026.”
The conference will also include an exploration of Exeter Cathedral’s Exeter Book – a UNESCO World Memory object, widely regarded as the oldest surviving book in the English language – with particular focus on its cosmopolitan Northern European content and identity. The 10th century book is currently being displayed in cathedral’s new Treasures Exhibition, showcasing fascinating items from its collections to the public for the first time.
The Rev’d James Mustard, Canon Precentor at Exeter Cathedral is excited to host the conference and to explore The Exeter Book in the context of Northern European culture:
“All of us at Exeter Cathedral are thrilled to be welcoming the Northern European Cathedrals Conference to Exeter in 2026. Following hugely successful conferences in Dublin (2019) and Lund, Sweden (2024), it will be a great pleasure to welcome colleagues from cathedrals across Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iceland, Germany, the Netherlands and the Baltic States to consider how our cathedrals may be places of accumulated wisdom.
“Central to the conference will be The Exeter Book, an Anglo-Saxon volume, recognised by UNESCO as one of ‘the world’s principal cultural artefacts’, now on public display for the first time since it arrived at Exeter Cathedral alongside our first Bishop in 1050. We will be considering the Exeter Book’s relationship to Northern European culture, and how it might speak to us today. We can’t wait to share our newly-renovated cathedral, and our ancient and loyal city with the conference delegates.”
During the three-day event, there will be a busy programme of services and discussions, including talks from Dr Eleanor Parker, Lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Oxford University; Composer Nico Muhl;, Professor Christopher Southgate from University of Exeter; Professor Nicholas Orme, emeritus professor of history at University of Exeter; and Professor Morwenna Ludlow, Canon Theologian at Exeter Cathedral.