Holy Places — documentary photography by Hamish Gregory

Holy Places

Photograph of the Abbot of Buckfast Abbey incensing the altar
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at Buckfast Abbey
Photograph of the Abbot of Buckfast Abbey incensing the altar during Christus Rex
A Knight of the Holy Sepulchre approaches the altar of Buckfast Abbey
A Priest stands before the Abbot during Mass before reading the Holy Gospel
A thurifer incenses the congregation at Buckfast Abbey
Knights of the Holy Sepulchre process inside Buckfast Abbey
A microphone records a monk swinging a censer
The Abbot of Buckfast Abbey gives a homily into a microphone for the BBC
A black and white photo of a man walking into window light inside Buckfast Abbey
Window light illuminates a large crucifix
An exquisite cope is displayed depicting the annunciation on the back
A vestment is displayed inside a sacristy
A photograph of Buckfast Abbey during a frosty winter morning with low sun
A close up photo of a Monk surrounded by candlelight during Maundy Thursday
Buckfast Abbey during a Christmas carol service
A lone woman walks in window light inside St Germain Des Pres in Paris
The decorative baroque ceiling of the Lady Chapel chapel of St Sulpice in Paris
A nun walks past the Blessed Sacrament chapel of Plymouth Cathedral
Light pours over the Pieta statue inside Plymouth Cathedral
A woman walks through the newly planted garden of Exeter Cathedral's cloister

Photographing sacred spaces is an education in patience. These images were made across years of access inside Buckfast Abbey, with work extending into other Catholic spaces across Britain and Europe; access granted slowly, on the basis of trust, and which demands in return a particular attentiveness. The values this work reinforced, discipline, restraint, respect for things made carefully, are not separable from the photography.

Some photographs were taken during employment with Buckfast Abbey and are included with permission, presented solely to demonstrate capability.