The Essay Episodes Available now
Colour and the Sistine Chapel—Painting Genesis
3/4 Art critic Rachel Campbell-Johnston responds to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings.
God and the Sistine Chapel—Painting Genesis
1/4 Rev Lucy Winkett on what Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings say to Christians today.
Eadfrith the Scribe—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
10/30 Richard Gameson explores the everyday working lives and vital contribution of scribes.
Cuthbert—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
9/30 Historian Tony Morris explores the life of Cuthbert, the popular saint of the Northeast.
Hild of Whitby—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
8/30 The story of Hild of Whitby, an abbess who held great power in the seventh century.
Penda—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
7/30 Historian Michael Wood celebrates Penda, the much-maligned last pagan king of England.
King Edwin—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
6/30 Discussing King Edwin, the ruler of Northumbria famous for his conversion to Christianity.
King Raedwald—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
5/30 Martin Carver discusses the inhabitant of the Sutton Hoo ship burial.
Three Alpha Females—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
4/30 Martin Carver recreates the lives of three powerful pagan women.
St Augustine—Anglo-Saxon Portraits
3/30 Rowan Williams focuses on St Augustine, the first-ever Archbishop of Canterbury.
