Famous Name Artistic Works Exhibited at St Mary’s Church

Published on: 22 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2026

A free exhibition featuring paintings by Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink, Patrick Heron and Maggi Hambling among others is currently running at St Mary’s Church in Quarry Street, Guildford.

The exhibition From Darkness… to Light offers a rare opportunity to view the works of art from internationally renowned artists.

Untitled: Pentecost by James Brokenshire. Is this meant to suggest an Angel hovering?

On show are 25 works from the Methodist Modern Art Collection. Organisers say: “the exhibition sets the scene by showcasing some aspects of Christ’s ministry and, staged during the final part of Lent, focusses on Christ’s journey to the Cross, Resurrection and Pentecost.”

The Methodist Modern Art Collection (MMAC) is one of Britain’s most important collections of modern religious art. The entire collection comprises over 60 works, by British and international artists.

Richard Bavin’s The Empty Tomb 2023 – a watercolour that uses light and shade extraordinarliy.

St Mary’s medieval church in Quarry Street, Guildford has been a joint Anglican and Methodist place of worship for the last 13 years. St Mary’s is itself an historical gem, it’s Saxon tower id the oldest structure in the town, and worthy of a visit in its own right.

A series of poems has been specially written by accomplished poet Dr Alwyn
Marriage to complement each of the works on display.

The Mayor of Guildford Howard Smith and the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Michael More-Molyneux attended a preview of the exhibition on Sunday March 8.

Paul Glass, Methodist Minister at St Mary’s and one of the main organisers, said: “It is enormously exciting for this modern art to be coming to what may well be the oldest building in the world used regularly for Methodist worship.

“We’ve worked hard to arrange a fantastic range of events and ways of engaging with these extraordinary artworks. We look forward to welcoming everyone to see them and to take part in what we have planned.”

The exhibition will run to 5 April 5 and public opening hours will be 11 am to 3 pm (or later) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and daily from 30 Marchto 4 April.

For more details of associated special events and full opening times visit MMAC 2026 — Holy Trinity & St Mary’s Guildford.