Research

The Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture undertakes research projects both as an individual organisation and in collaboration with academic and commercial partners.

Our specialist skill-sets in the field of digital modelling and virtual reality offer the opportunity to convert research data to the visual medium and thereby explore relationships, hypotheses and sensory interactions. This takes virtual reality beyond being solely a tool for public engagement and into the realm of research tool, allowing new questions to be asked and new avenues explored.

2018-2019

The ‘Becket Connection’ (2018-2019) followed and built upon work for the Pilgrimage and England’s Cathedral project (2014-2017). The project aimed to explore, in more detail, the historical cathedral city and UNESCO world heritage site of Canterbury. The main output was a fully-realised digital visualisation of Canterbury in c.1450 which will be situated alongside teaching and online resources, supporting further learning and achieving the project’s aims.

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2014 - 2018

Looking at four English cathedrals - Canterbury, York, Durham and Westminster - this project sought to explore the core dynamics of pilgrimage and sacred sites in England from the 11th to 21st centuries. Outputs include books, journal articles, conferences, a website, and an interactive animated visualization of medieval pilgrim experience.

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2016 - 2017

Glastonbury Abbey is one of the most important medieval heritage sites in the UK, and has been the focus of archaeological study since the 19th century. This AHRC-funded research project, a collaboration between CSCC, the University of Reading and Glastonbury Abbey, brought together archaeological and documentary evidence to create 3D visualisations, a touchscreen interface and a website.

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2013 - 2017

As a monument to medieval kingship and a setting for parliamentary government, St Stephen’s Chapel in the Palace of Westminster helped to shape the political culture of the nation. Funded by the AHRC, the project explores the history, art and architecture of the royal chapel which became the first dedicated House of Commons.

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