Student Page

As a relatively new, albeit mature, graduate (BA Humanities, University of Exeter 2008 and MA Professional Writing University College Falmouth 2009) I envy you the city you have chosen for your studies. I arrived in March and am loving all it has to offer.

I work at the Cathedral, which is there perched on the hill. It is a church, but bothmore and less than a church.

John Ruskin said, ‘‘I have always held, and am prepared against all comers to maintain, that the Cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles, and, roughly speaking, worth any two other cathedrals we have,’

Don’t just take his word for it. If you are studying ARCHITECTURE, come and see for yourself; actually what ever it is you are studying.

But if it is Media, then come and see how photogenic it is. The way the colour of the stone changes in the course of the day and year. Explore the parts of the Cathedral used in Holywood productions, Top Gear or the Antiques Road Show.

If it is Heritage Studies, it is your primary source material.

If it is Medieval History, we have the medieval manuscripts. The Medieval and Wren Libraries are truly something else.

If it is Law, come and see Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forrest at the Castle. During your time in Lincoln we hope to do a lot on its interpretation. Let us know what you think. Tweet me @PhilWriter.

If it is Tourism, I look forward to meeting you. We are a major tourist destination and I am looking forward to seeing the results of projects which have, as their subject, the Cathedral. What do visitors hope for from their visit; what do they get?

If it is PERFORMING ARTS, I hope you will be able to use the Cathedral as a location for site-specific performance.

For centuries pilgrims have travelled from the corners of the earth to seek peace here – it is a place for the soul to rest in a world of turbulence… it’s also got the best (free) audio-visual show on earth: evensong with the sun glinting through the stained-glass windows!

Whatever it is, I look forward to your visit. Bring your parents. Bring your friends. There’s so much to do “up hill” with some of the city’s best pubs and restaurants and the boutique shopping is quite special too.

If you are a student at the University of Lincoln, Lincoln College or Bishop Grosseteste University College then you can experience all of this for FREE.

So whatever you’re studying take a walk, take a bus but whatever you do, don’t miss out on all that we have to offer.