or
Register
en_US
en_US es_ES nl_NL it_IT fr_FR pt_BR de_DE
Christian Art Logo
Contribute
Conference Logo for Landing Page HEADER 1024x1024 1
Get Your Ticket
Conference Logo for Landing Page

Grow Closer to God through the Beauty of Art and the Gospel

Subscribe to our Free Daily Gospel Reading and Art Reflection

christian Art conference typographic

London, England | 14 November 2026

Get Your Ticket

Grow Closer to God through the Beauty of Art and the Gospel

Subscribe to our Free Daily Gospel Reading and Art Reflection

Recent Gospel Readings & Art Reflections

9 July 2026

Matthew 10:7-15

Take no bag for your journey

8 July 2026

Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus called to him his twelve disciples

7 July 2026

Matthew 9:32-38

Jesus went throughout all the villages, teachin...

6 July 2026

Matthew 9:18-26

A ruler knelt before him, and a woman touched H...

5 July 2026

Matthew 11:25-30

No one knows the Son except the Father

4 July 2026

Matthew 9:14-17

New wine is put into fresh wineskins

What is Christian Art?

We offer a unique approach to daily Gospel readings. Each day, we select a work of art relevant to the day’s scripture passage and offer a short reflection on the two.

Written by Patrick van der Vorst a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Westminster, London and a former Director of Sotheby’s London, Christian Art’s mission is to draw people closer to God through the magnificent pairing of art and the Christian faith.

MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN ART

Recent Videos

What is the Lamb of God? In this episode, Fr. Patrick van der Vorst explores one of the richest and most enduring symbols of the Christian faith. Beginning with Francisco de Zurbarán's extraordinary Agnus Dei at the National Gallery, he traces the image of the lamb through Scripture—from Abraham and Isaac, the Passover in Egypt, and the prophet Isaiah, to John the Baptist's proclamation: "Behold the Lamb of God." Finally, travelling to Westminster Cathedral, he discovers how the ancient Pallium—woven from lamb's wool and worn by popes and archbishops—beautifully unites the symbols of the Lamb of God and Christ the Good Shepherd. _____________________________________________________________________ 🎨 2026 CHRISTIAN ART CONFERENCE 📍 London – QEII Centre 🗓️ 14 November 2026 Join Fr. Patrick and the Christian.Art team for a day dedicated to beauty, sacred art, and evangelisation. Sign up at https://christian.art/conference2026 for further details. 🎟️ Tickets selling fast! _____________________________________________________________________ Fr. Patrick visits the National Gallery in London to explore one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious symbols: the Lamb of God. Standing before Francisco de Zurbarán's extraordinary Agnus Dei, he discovers how a seemingly simple painting of a bound lamb opens a window onto the mystery of Christ's sacrifice. Looking closely at its remarkable realism, dramatic simplicity and profound symbolism, he unpacks why Zurbarán removed almost every distraction from the composition, leaving the viewer alone with the lamb itself—a powerful invitation to contemplate Christ's Passion through one of the masterpieces of the Spanish Golden Age. But why did God choose a lamb? Seeking the answer beyond the gallery walls, Fr. Patrick travels to Wintershall in Surrey, where the famous open-air production The Life of Christ has been bringing the Gospel to life for over twenty years. Spending time among newborn lambs and meeting the shepherdess who cares for them, he reflects on the innocence, gentleness and vulnerability of these remarkable animals, asking what it is about the lamb that has made it the supreme symbol of sacrifice throughout Christian history. From there, the journey turns to Scripture itself. Travelling from the ancient world of Mesopotamia to the pages of the Old Testament, Fr. Patrick traces the story of the lamb through Abraham and Isaac, the Passover in Egypt, and Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant before arriving at John the Baptist's extraordinary proclamation on the banks of the River Jordan: "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." Along the way, he reveals how the image of the lamb unfolds gradually across salvation history before finding its fulfilment in Christ. The film also explores how artists across the centuries sought to give visual form to this profound mystery. From the sixth-century mosaics of Ravenna and medieval illuminated manuscripts to Jan van Eyck's magnificent Ghent Altarpiece, the Lamb of God became one of the defining images of Christian art, inspiring generations of painters, sculptors and craftsmen to express the mystery of redemption. Finally, Fr. Patrick travels to Westminster Cathedral to discover how the symbolism of the lamb continues to shape the life of the Church today. Given rare access to the ancient Pallium—woven from the wool of specially blessed lambs in Rome and bestowed by the Pope upon metropolitan archbishops—he uncovers the rich symbolism of one of Catholicism's oldest liturgical vestments, where the Lamb of God and Christ the Good Shepherd are brought together in a single powerful sign. Joined by Archbishop Richard Moth, who recently received his Pallium from Pope Leo XIV, Fr. Patrick reflects on its meaning as a symbol of communion with the See of Peter, the responsibility of carrying Christ's flock, and the enduring significance of the words spoken at every Mass: "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world." From a single painting in the National Gallery to the liturgy of the Church today, this episode reveals how one humble creature became one of the richest and most enduring images in Christianity—an image that continues to speak of sacrifice, mercy, peace and the saving love of Christ. Credits Presenter: Fr. Patrick van der Vorst Produced by Cradle Studios UK – www.cradlestudios.co.uk Director – Emmett Glynn DoP - Moritz Oskar Meyer Production Assistant - Elizabeth Robinson Special thanks The National Gallery, London Wintershall Westminster Cathedral Archbishop Richard Moth Vatican Media
YouTube Video VVVWVHNqbGxpOGFkSThYUUhyY1RMeURRLmNTLU02cV9mallF

The Lamb of God and The Pallium

Christian Art is proud to present a first-of-its-kind collaboration with LUMINISCENCE—the breathtaking 360° immersive light and sound experience transforming Westminster Cathedral. Using 24 laser projectors, cutting-edge video mapping and spatial sound, LUMINISCENCE brings one of London's greatest sacred spaces to life like never before. For the first time, the Cathedral's unfinished domes are digitally realised according to architect John Francis Bentley's original vision, revealing how the interior may one day appear adorned with its complete mosaic programme. The experience features a specially commissioned script by BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning writer Tim Whitnall, narrated by acclaimed actor Hugh Bonneville, alongside live performances from the phenomenal Lux Aeterna Choir and the 14-piece LUMINISCENCE Orchestra, performing timeless works by composers including Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, Debussy and Verdi. Having already captivated more than two million visitors worldwide, LUMINISCENCE now comes to London for a strictly limited season at Westminster Cathedral. 🎟️ Book your tickets here: https://luminiscence.com/london/ Subscribe to Christian Art for weekly films exploring the beauty, history and theology of Christian art, architecture and sacred music. This video is presented in partnership with LUMINISCENCE.
YouTube Video VVVWVHNqbGxpOGFkSThYUUhyY1RMeURRLkIzaFR5VEQ2VjA4

Christian Art Presents: LUMINISCENCE at Westminster Cathedral

Fr. Patrick van der Vorst revisits the artworks, places and experiences that shaped his journey from the art world to the priesthood. Interwoven with testimonies from priests, religious sisters and consecrated men and women, the film explores how God calls each person uniquely through beauty, faith, experience and the search for vocation. ______________________________________________________________________ 🎨 2026 CHRISTIAN ART CONFERENCE 📍 London – QEII Centre 🗓️ 14 November 2026 Join Fr. Patrick and the Christian Art team for a day dedicated to beauty, sacred art, and evangelisation. Sign up at https://christian.art for further details. 🎟️ Tickets on sale now! ______________________________________________________________________ Beginning in his native Belgium and tracing a path through his years at a Benedictine boarding school near Ghent to a sixteen-year career at Sotheby’s in London, Fr. Patrick reflects on how beauty, art and faith gradually became intertwined in his life. Returning to artworks that marked different stages of his journey — including the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck and Francisco de Zurbarán’s Saint Francis in Meditation — he considers how God often works quietly through the people, places and experiences that shape us long before we recognise His call. But this is not simply Fr. Patrick’s story. Interwoven throughout the film are the testimonies of priests, religious sisters and consecrated men and women who share their own journeys to a vocation. Some came from successful careers, others felt called from childhood, while many discovered their vocation only after years of searching and discernment. Through these encounters, the film explores the deeply personal and often unexpected ways that God calls people to dedicate their lives to Him. No two vocations are identical, yet each reflects the same search for meaning, peace and fulfilment in following Christ. Returning to the artworks that accompanied his own journey, Fr. Patrick reflects on how Christian art does more than illustrate faith — it can become a place of encounter. A painting, a chapel, a moment of beauty or silence can sometimes reveal truths that words alone cannot express. The film also reflects on the tension many people experience when discerning a vocation: the fear of leaving behind careers, ambitions, relationships or familiar ways of life. Through personal testimony, those interviewed speak openly about sacrifice, uncertainty and the surprising freedom they discovered in responding to God’s call. At the centre of the film lies one of the most important questions of the spiritual life: What is my vocation? What is God calling me to do with my life? __________________________________________________________________________ Locations and Contributors St George’s Cathedral, Southwark Fr Robert Sugg Fr Joe Owusu-Ansah Fr Joseph Gulliford Fr Dermott O'Gorman Ealing Abbey, London Abbot Martin Shipperlee Dom Peter Burns Dom Ambrose McCambridge Abbot Dominic Taylor Dom Bede Grey Tyburn Convent, London Sr M. Carla of the Holy Face O’Regan Mother M. Joanna of the Eucharistic Heart Hope Mother M. Gertrudis de la Santa Eucaristia Pazo Morales Mother M. Hildegarde of the Sacred Heart Bates Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, Lymington Sr Catherine Bloom OP Sr Michelle Hawkes OP Sr Lucy Cahill OP St Dominic’s Priory – The Rosary Shrine Fr Peter Harries OP Fr Aidan Nichols OP Fr Matthew Jarvis OP Fr Toby Lees OP Many Thanks A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the film. We hope to release a longer version in the future featuring extended excerpts from the interviews. Special thanks to those who helped bring the project together: Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau Patrick Kinsella Canon Michael Branch, Cathedral Dean of St George’s Cathedral, Southwark Abbot Dominic Taylor M.M. Ines OSB Fr Toby Lees OP Credits Presenter: Fr Patrick van der Vorst Produced by Cradle Studios UK – / cradlestudiosuk Director – Emmett Glynn Director of Photography – Moritz Oskar Meyer Graphics – Daniel Andres Nunez Sardinha Edit Assistant – Katherine Do Rosario Production Assistant – Elizabeth Robinson
YouTube Video VVVWVHNqbGxpOGFkSThYUUhyY1RMeURRLkstU3RNVm1LUXRB

A Journey From the Art World to the Priesthood

To mark Easter, Fr. Patrick van der Vorst travels to Coventry Cathedral—a place where destruction and renewal stand side by side. Moving between the ruins of the medieval cathedral and the vast modern sanctuary built beside them, he explores one of Britain’s most extraordinary works of sacred art: Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph by Graham Sutherland. Standing before this monumental tapestry, Fr. Patrick unpacks its symbolism—its wounded yet risen Christ, its ancient Gospel imagery, and the deeper mystery it reveals at the heart of Easter. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 🎨 2026 CHRISTIAN ART CONFERENCE 📍 London – QEII Centre 🗓️ 14 November 2026 Join Fr. Patrick and the Christian Art team for a day dedicated to beauty, sacred art, and evangelisation. Sign up at https://christian.art for further details. 🎟️ Tickets on sale now! _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Rising over 23 metres behind the altar, Sutherland’s tapestry dominates the cathedral space. Christ appears both crucified and risen—bearing the wounds of the Cross, yet radiant in glory—holding together suffering and resurrection in a single, powerful image. Fr. Patrick draws attention to the tetramorph—the four symbolic creatures representing the evangelists—surrounding Christ as witnesses to the Gospel. He also reflects on the mandorla at the centre of the composition, where Christ stands at the meeting point of the human and the divine. But to understand the full meaning of this image, he steps outside. In the shadow of the cathedral lie the ruins of the original St Michael’s, destroyed during the Coventry Blitz. Walking through the charred remains, Fr. Patrick recounts the devastation of that night—and the emergence of a powerful symbol: a cross formed from burnt timbers by stonemason John Forbes. Here, he meets Brendan Thompson, a Catholic speaker and coordinator for Word on Fire in the UK—and the great-grandson of John Forbes himself. Through Brendan’s testimony, the story of the charred cross is brought to life: a simple act of faith, forged in the aftermath of destruction, that continues to speak across generations. That cross, raised from the ashes, became a sign of hope. Returning inside, the film reveals how architect Basil Spence designed the new cathedral not to replace the ruins, but to stand alongside them—embodying the same theological truth expressed in Sutherland’s tapestry: that death and resurrection must be seen together. Commissioned in this spirit, Sutherland’s work draws on his experience as a war artist. Influenced by the suffering he witnessed during the war, he presents a Christ who is both deeply human and gloriously divine—unsettling, powerful, and unmistakably real. Woven in France by the Atelier Pinton using millions of threads and over nine hundred colours, the tapestry remains one of the largest of its kind in the world. At its centre lies the mystery of Easter. Why do we call it Good Friday? Fr. Patrick reflects on this paradox: that suffering itself is not good—but through it, God brings redemption. When humanity gave its worst, God responded with mercy, forgiveness, and new life. At the feet of Christ, a small, easily overlooked human figure stands. It is humanity itself—small before God, yet lifted up through the resurrection. From the ruins outside to the glory within, Coventry Cathedral becomes a living proclamation of the Christian story: that out of destruction comes renewal, and out of death, life. Credits Presenter: Fr. Patrick van der Vorst Produced by Cradle Studios UK – https://www.instagram.com/cradlestudiosuk Director – Emmett Glynn Special thanks Coventry Cathedral Archive footage used under fair use from Pathé
YouTube Video VVVWVHNqbGxpOGFkSThYUUhyY1RMeURRLklJaDB4RlpkNzdJ

From Ashes to Glory: the Cathedral and the Risen Christ (Easter 2026)

You are warmly invited to the inaugural Christian Art Conference, a one-day gathering exploring the sacred dialogue between Beauty and Faith. Taking place on Saturday 14 November 2026 at the QEII Centre, London, opposite Westminster Abbey, this conference brings together artists, theologians, cultural leaders, and our global Christian Art community to reflect on the spiritual power of art. The day will explore how beauty can open hearts, illuminate meaning, and draw us closer to God through keynote talks, panel conversations, and shared encounter. Speakers include Rowan Williams, Timothy Radcliffe OP, Neil MacGregor, Gabriele Finaldi, Baroness Sheila Hollins, and others. If you are drawn to the meeting of art, faith, and the sacred, we would love you to be part of this conversation. Tickets & full details here: https://christian.art/conference2026
YouTube Video VVVWVHNqbGxpOGFkSThYUUhyY1RMeURRLnZpNFRoVE9TT2E4

Christian Art Conference 2026 | Beauty, Faith & the Sacred

See all videos

Join our community

In addition to receiving our Daily Gospel Reading and Art Reflection, signing up for a free membership allows you to: 

  • Comment and interact with fellow members
  • Save your favorite readings & artworks
  • Access member’s only content
Sign up for a free membership

Search for a Daily Gospel Reading

Are you looking for a specific Gospel Reading or a Reading from a specific date?

CLICK TO SEARCH BY GOSPEL PASSAGE
CLICK TO SEARCH BY CALENDAR DATE

Connect with us on all of your devices

Download our App:

Christian Art Logo for App
Christian Art Google Play
Christian Art Itunes
Christian Art Devices

Follow Us

Facebook Instagram Youtube Pinterest
Christian Art Logo
  • © 2026 Christian Art Network Limited