Kent: Art at St Augustine's, Ramsgate

St Augustine's

August will be an artistic month in Ramsgate, Kent, as visitors admire the new art exhibition at St Augustine’s.

Artists from London will exhibit a range of types of art, from glass to printing to etching to watercolours. Many of the works have been inspired by the beautiful Gothic style of Pugin at St Augustine’s, and compliment the newly-restored Victorian stained glass.

The brand new display opened on Friday 2 August, runs until Sunday 31 August. Visitors will be able to admire the artistic creations in the west cloister. St Augustine’s has three cloisters, one containing the vibrant terracotta Stations of the Cross by De Beule (1893), one under repair, and the other will contain the exhibition.

The artists and their materials are as follows: Karen Butti – Embroidered textiles; Nick Haseltine – Screenprinting; Juliet Johnson – Coloured and etched glass; John Richards – Pen and ink, watercolour; and Paul Sharrock – Etching, digital prints, linoprints

This is the first time that St Augustine’s has held such an exhibition. Centre Manager, John Coverdale, said: “We are really excited to host this exhibition. This gives Ramsgate a new artistic vision and outlet. St Augustine’s is really opening up to the community and to tourists, and we hope this will attract even more people to visit us and the town.”

Rector, Fr Marcus Holden, said: “The artists have been inspired by the beautiful Pugin designs at St Augustine’s, and they enhance people’s experiences here. We hope many people will come to see the wonderful art on display as well as the fruit of Pugin’s own genius mind.”

The artwork on display will be for sale, and arrangements can be made with the Stewards.

St Augustine’s is undergoing a major restoration and expansion programme. Currently under way is Phase 3, which is repairing the roof of the Schoolroom and Library as well as restoring the East Window, windows in the West Cloister, and various stonework. This has received significant funding from English Heritage.

St Augustine’s is open from 10am to 4pm every day. Entrance is free, and donations are welcome.

The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded St Augustine’s £82,000 in November to fund a Development Phase towards a full grant of almost a million pounds. This will enable the creation of an Education, Research, and Visitor Centre which will be a focus of exhibitions, studies, and access to Pugin and St Augustine. Already attracting groups from across the country and the world, the planned centre will make Ramsgate an even greater point on the map.

Fundraising for approximately £90,000 is underway, which must be raised by Spring 2015, in order to qualify for the full grant. For more information, contact the Friends of St Augustine at office@augustineshrine.co.

St Augustine’s was built by the renowned Augustus Pugin, most famous for his work on the Houses of Parliament. St Augustine’s was the only church he built with his own money, and so unencumbered by the demands of patrons. He said that it was the perfect model of his ‘true principles’ and called it “my own child.” Pugin died in 1852 and is buried in the church, beneath a tomb designed by his son.

For more information see: www.augustineshrine.co.uk