Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Stunningly colourful flower display . Great free attraction . Historic origins . |
| Disadvantages: |
Can be crowded during the day . Two days and it's all swept away ! |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
I was brought up never to discuss two things: politics and religion. This review does not set out to be any religious discussion whatsoever, I honestly feel that such is the spectacle of the Carpet of Flowers in Arundel, one's religion or lack thereof really does not come into it.
However, the flowers are there to celebrate a "feast" in the religious calendar and therefore their very being does require certain explanation and qualification.
For those of you who do not know Arundel, it is the cathedral town (it really is not big enough to be a city!) of the Arundel and Brighton Catholic diocese. It is one of those idyllic, archetypically English towns with something for everyone, a lovely river running through it, a huge castle (belonging to the Duke of Norfolk) towering over it to one side and the beautiful Catholic Cathedral to the
other.
This is not a review of Arundel as a holiday destination - nor indeed place to live, the association with the Catholic Norfolk family, their castle, the town and the Cathedral is however integral to this review. Without the Norfolk's this event would not be here to take place, nor come to think of it would the Cathedral be here to house it!
In historical terms Arundel Cathedral is relatively "modern". It may look like a remarkably well preserved gothic building, but in actual fact it was only founded in 1873. It is a building deserving of a separate review to itself, save to say, here, that it makes a truly beautiful and fitting setting for an annual event such as the Carpet of Flowers.
Visitors this year were doubly treated, not only were the flowers themselves the best display that we have seen during the four years that we have been visiting this event, but the Cathedral organ, having undergone a two year restoration programme in Liverpool, was being played for the first time since being reconstructed here.
Why the Carpet of Flowers and What exactly is Corpus Christi?
The feast of Corpus Christie is one of the most important events in the Catholic calendar. The word "event" rather than "date" is used here due to Corpus Christie being a moveable celebration - it follows 60 days after Easter.
Literally translated Corpus Christi is Latin for "the Body of Christ". At the last supper, shared with his disciples, Jesus took some bread and gave it to them saying "This is my body which will be given to you; do this as a memorial of me". He repeated the gesture with the cup "This cup is the new covenant in my blood". Here indeed lies the origin of the distribution of bread and wine in taking Holy Communion during the celebration of daily Mass.
In 1264 a special celebration of the Eucharist with a solemn festival was introduced into the Church's calendar, taking place on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday. This year (2006) that was last Thursday, 15th June.
Now we come to the flowers themselves! In ancient times it was the custom to throw flower petals in the path and under the feet of important persons as a sign of respect and reverence. The Church adopted this custom to celebrate the Blessed Sacrament, carried in procession during the festival of Corpus Christie. In places in
Europe, this practice saw whole streets carpeted with flowers. To this day, in some towns in Italy, the entire procession route is carpeted in flowers. This carpet usually takes the form of scenes from the gospels, surrounded in intricate and colourful patterns.
Henry, Duke of Norfolk it seems, had seen the carpet of flowers in a village called Sutri outside Rome, he introduced it to Arundel in 1877 and with the single exception of the First World War years, the carpet of flowers has been laid in Arundel Cathedral ever since.
The work involved in designing the carpet and then painstaking laying tens of thousands of blooms and leaves has always been undertaken by the "ladies of the parish". This year, in a break with tradition, pupils from St Philip's Catholic Primary School in Arundel helped them with the laying of the carpet.
A lady called Mary Bragg oversees the whole operation; she has been involved with the Carpet of Flowers for the last 31 years. She sees this very much as a religious festival, rather than as the tourist attraction that it has grown into over the years. So well known is this event that visitors from all over the world come here to admire the ladies work.
The flowers are especially imported from Holland for the event, many of them are dyed, all still on their stems. It is around a week's work to cut the flowers and lay the carpet. Last year the range available was not so good, as we were told by one of the ladies who to do this. It is not known exactly how many flowers there are, the nearest estimate puts it at 30,000. Money is raised in the Cathedral throughout the year to pay for the flowers, whilst money raised during the two days that the Carpet of Flowers are on general display is put towards maintenance of the Cathedral itself.
Each year the ladies suggest a "theme" which is put before the Cathedral Authorities and a template is then drawn up, onto which the patterns of flowers are laid on the main aisle of the Cathedral. The background for the "floral painting" is first laid in the form of bunches of lush green leylandii fern, into which the colourful flowers are then inserted. This years theme was world peace and the carpet contained the word "PAX" - Latin for peace.
After the procession and Corpus Christie service is finished, some of the parishioners pick up the flowers and press them in their prayer books, others are collected by children and the remainder are swept up.
The flowers are not exclusive to the aisle. The whole cathedral is decorated with beautiful flower arrangements, large and small - all stunningly colourful this year.
I am not going to attempt to describe the patterns or colours used here - this really is a case of a picture being worth a thousand words and, more than on any other of my reviews, I would urge you to have a look at the photographs published below - as well as the close up shot above which Ciao has obligingly published.
There are stalls on either side of the Cathedral selling professional photographs of the Carpet of Flowers - in three different sizes, as well as various religious items. I would also recommend a visit to the Cathedral Gift Shop, which is well stocked with cards, post cards, jewellery and gifts - all very reasonably priced.
Whatever your religious inclinations, the Carpet of Flowers is undoubtedly a remarkable site, set within a building of much architectural merit. There is plenty to see in Arundel too to make this a most rewarding day out - with a difference.
This is a free attraction - there is no charge for visiting Arundel Cathedral, obviously donations are encouraged though. Free car parking is provided in the Castle grounds. During the day time, refreshments and home made cakes are available in St Mary's Hall next to the Cathedral.
The Carpet of Flowers opens for two days prior to the 5.30pm Mass of the Blessed Sacrament on the Thursday. If you should find yourself within Sussex, or live here even, and have not visited the carpet of Flowers, I would thoroughly recommend that you do so next year.
Arundel is situated on the main A27 south coast road, mid-way between Worthing and Chichester. The Cathedral and Carpet of Flowers are well sign posted from the roundabouts on the A27 Arundel by-pass.
PLEASE NOTE: The Specific Criteria below is largely irrellevant for the Carpet of Flowers.
Display pictures
Well here it is - the carpet of flowers, taken from in front of the alter. |
