Cathedral Treasures of England and Wales 

by Janet Gough

Monday 15th January 2024

‘Cathedrals aren't just buildings - they are treasure houses. So why are they overlooked as museums?’  Simon Heffer, the Daily Telegraph.

Cathedrals are monumental constructions, representing the greatest effort of Christian dedication in our landscape. They also house the most important objects associated with Christianity. In Janet Gough’s lecture accompanying her recent Scala paperback, 50 of these astonishing artefacts on display in the cathedrals of England and Wales and selected by the cathedral deans are brought to life. Ranging from sundials and astronomical clocks to stained glass, and pilgrims’ boots to Early English books and the first Welsh Bible, the National Churches Trust describes the treasures covered as ‘simply mesmerising’. 

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For eight years, Janet Gough was the Church of England’s Director of Church Buildings. She has written three illustrated paperbacks to encourage wider enjoyment of these amazing buildings, the most recent being Deans' Choice, Cathedral Treasures of England and Wales. A Cambridge graduate in History and History of Art, Janet worked at Sotheby’s for nine years, was a trustee at the Churches Conservation Trust, the Museum of Fulham Palace and the Friends of the V&A. She guides and lectures at the V&A. Janet received an OBE for services to heritage in 2017, and in 2021 was made one of the first lay Canons of Bangor cathedral.