7.30-9.30pm in the Undercroft. (Doors open 7.00.)

Simon Parke will give a talk about this fascinating character, followed by Q&A.

"Julian of Norwich is in the Top Ten of great English women - yet largely unknown.

A 14th century contemporary of Chaucer, she was the first woman to write a book in English. Some achievement. Yet remarkably, she disappeared from view for 600 years, before her rediscovery in the 20th century.

There are now 'Julian' groups all over the world, including Seaford.

An anchoress in Norwich, she lived sealed-up in a cell for forty years, surrounded by plague, misogyny, inequality, political violence and religious bigotry.

It was the worst of times and she should have gone mad... yet remained one of the sanest people this country has ever seen, giving the world one of its most famous calls to hope: ‘All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.’

Who was she? Why did she pray for a near-death experience - and then choose containment in a cell? And how, amid these traumatic years (worse even than ours?) did she speak with such optimism?

In the ancient and beautiful setting of the Crypt's Undercroft, Simon reflects on her life and her times, her difficulties and her hope, including readings from his novel about her, 'The Secret Testament of Julian'.

Some surprising light in the winter dark of February."

Tickets £5 available from Eventbrite and from Seaford Tourist Information Centre.