Margery Kempe was not an inconspicuous figure. Clad all in white, a uniform usually reserved for virgins, and frequently overcome by bouts of crying so loud that they were described as ‘roarings’, she rarely went unnoticed. Loved and hated, both in her own time and ever since, Margery has often provoked extreme reactions. Many of the people she came across in her travels found her tedious, irritating and loud. Others labelled her a heretic and wanted to see her executed for her crimes. They thought that she must be possessed, or mad, or simply deceitful. This session will outline some of her key visions, explore how she crafted a story of her spiritual life – and to what ends – and reflect on Margery’s decision to remain part of the world even as she pursued a religious life.

About the Tutor

Hetta Howes is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Literature at City St George’s University of London. She regularly contributes to broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4, as well as writing for publications such as The Times Literary Supplement and BBC History Extra. She has a BA and MPhil from Cambridge University and a PhD from Queen Mary, University of London and her research focuses on the the stories that women were telling in the Middle Ages as well as the conceptions (and misconceptions) of women that still inform our thinking today.

Her book Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife: The Extraordinary Lives of Medieval Women was published by Bloomsbury in 2024 and explores the lives and writings of Margery Kempe, Christine de Pizan, Julian of Norwich and Marie de France.

About the English Mystics Series

The Christian mystical tradition is vibrant and international. It brings a wide range of voices to our attention and shares insights about God (and our relationship with God) from their positions – often on the margins. Many of the key voices and texts from this tradition come from relatively far away – Francis of Assisi and his followers from Italy, Meister Eckhart from Germany, or Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross from Spain. But England also has a vibrant and rich mystical tradition. Many scholars have identified five “English mystics” all from the 14th century. In this series we will consider three of these figures and then two later mystics from England.

Each session will consist of an introductory lecture by an expert on the English mystic in question. After a short break we will then have a Q&A session with the speaker.

This series is jointly organised by Sarum College and the Church Times, and a list of discounted books from Church House Bookshop will be made available relevant to each webinar. The webinars will be recorded and made available to view after the live webinar for 30 days.

Schedule and speakers

26th January — Margery Kempe with Hetta Howes

23rd February — Richard Rolle with Tim Glover

30th March — The Cloud of Unknowing with Becky Field

27th April — William Blake with Mark Vernon

25th May — Evelyn Underhill with Jane Shaw