ART, music and history will all feature in this year’s celebration of Herefordshire poet and spiritual writer, Thomas Traherne, which runs from Saturday to Monday.

An exhibition of prints by Ledbury artist Andrea McLean will be on display at Credenhill School and she will give a talk on Saturday at 4.30 pm about the influence of Thomas Traherne on her work. A distinguished artist, her work ‘A Contemporary Mappa Mundi’, painted in Hereford Cathedral, can be seen at the British Library in London.

Vital Spark, the west-gallery choir from Malvern known for their enjoyable and vigorous performances of the music played by ordinary villagers, will sing on Saturday evening at 7.30pm in Credenhill Church. Tickets (£8 to include refreshments) can be bought at the door.

On Monday, May 23 there will be a visit to Brampton Bryan Castle, where Edward Harley will talk about the Civil War sieges of his family’s home in Traherne’s time.

Other speakers on the Saturday will include Elizabeth Dodd, author of the latest book on Traherne, who will be talking about Traherne and the Welsh poet R. S. Thomas, and Bishop Geoffrey Rowell, who will speak on Traherne and Transfiguration. The Bishop of Hereford will preach at the Sunday morning service in Credenhill Church at 11am.

The Festival is organised by the Traherne Association, which is a registered charity that promotes understanding of the life and writings of Thomas Traherne (c.1637-1674), who was rector of Credenhill and a poet and mystical writer.

Information about Thomas Traherne and the Association as well as details of the festival and a downloadable application form can be found at thomastraherneassociation.org.