Church Monuments Society Symposium 2025
Tombs of the Aristocracy
29th August 2025 — 31st August 2025
West Dean College, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0QZ
We are delighted to invite you to the next Church Monuments Society symposium, which will be held at West Dean College from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August 2025.
Our theme, Tombs of the Aristocracy, is inspired by the magnificent tombs of the Fitzalans and Howards (Earls and Dukes of Norfolk) in Arundel and Chichester but covers so much more (see the provisional programme below). The event will include expert lectures and two excursions, with both residential and non-residential options for attending. Please download the relevant booking form from below, which can be emailed to us (instructions on the form).
The symposium is open to anyone. The final deadline for bookings is 30th June 2025. Those aged under 30, and/or registered on full- or part-time degree courses, are eligible for a special reduced rate, but these are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. See the booking forms for more details and conditions.
Non-residential attendees have the option to pay for the evening meal and lecture on Friday, and the extra meal on Saturday evening. Sunday-only attendees are able to attend the evening lecture (but not the evening meal) on Saturday with their Sunday-only ticket because, due to extra speakers filling the programme, Saturday now has a fuller programme of talks.
For more information and the booking forms, visit https://churchmonumentssociety.org/events/symposium-2025-tombs-of-the-aristocracy
Provisional Programme (detailed timings to be confirmed nearer the time)
Friday 29th August: West Dean College
Registration (time TBC but after 3pm)
Hot buffet dinner (private room) with President’s Welcome
After dinner lecture: Dr Dirk Breiding on commonalities and differences in iconography between English and Continental aristocratic tombs
Saturday 30th August: West Dean College lectures and excursion to Chichester Cathedral
Brian & Moira Gittos, ‘Beaufort’s pride’: the Tomb of John, 1st Duke of Somerset at Wimborne Minster
Dr Keith Dowen, All’Antica or Alla Moderna? The Monuments of Erasmo and Giantonio di Narni in Padua
Mid-morning refreshments
Sophia Dumoulin, ‘meete for my degree and callinge’: The Monument to Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, in Westminster Abbey
Pat Poppy, Fashion, status or timeless: clothing in 17th century church monuments.
Buffet lunch at West Dean
Visit to Chichester Cathedral
Optional evening buffet meal (self-service)
After dinner lecture: Dr Roger Bowdler, Humility in the Grave: outdoor aristocratic monuments over the centuries
Sunday 31st August: West Dean College lectures and excursion to Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel
Dr David Carrington, The Church Monuments Society in Action: progress report on the Getty-funded North Yorkshire monument conservation publication
Dr Adam White, John, Lord Lumley, the last of his line
Mid-morning refreshments
Dr Tobias Capwell, The French Connection: Refining the Stylistic Attribution of Armour Represented on Certain English Effigies c. 1435-1450
Buffet lunch at West Dean
Visit to Fitzalan Chapel, with talks
We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event!