PLANS for a yearlong festival to mark the 900th anniversary of the founding of Cirencester Abbey are to be presented to businesses next month to help attract extra sponsorship.

Next year’s Abbey 900 Festival will include a May Day Fair, the arrival of four ancient Abbey manuscripts at the Corinium Museum, Plantagenet and Civil War re-enactments, and the unveiling of a 70,000-brick Lego model of the Abbey itself.

The series of events has been carefully laid out by the Abbey 900 Steering Group along with support from Cirencester Community Development Trust Ltd.

Corinne Lamus, chair of the group, said: “It is a festival for the whole Cirencester community, much of which has already become involved and now we need the support of the business community to help bring the planning to fruition.”

Leaders of the steering group’s four work streams will showcase the plans through a series of presentations to businesses on September 6 at Cirencester Parish Church.

The Lego model of the Abbey Church, the 3D drawings for which will be on display at the launch, was designed by 20-year-old Oxford Brookes student Amy Speed.

“When they mentioned the project involved working with Cirencester Abbey, I jumped at the chance,” said Amy, who worked in conjunction with Arbuthnott Ladenburg Partnership and Portus and Whitton.

“This is because my current dissertation research is to do with atmospheres in cathedrals.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to get involved with modeling the Abbey Church as it has allowed me to really get to know how all the details work together.”

The founding of Cirencester’s Abbey is traditionally considered to mark the beginning of the cultural and economic success of the town.

The launch will be held in Cirencester Parish Church from 6.15pm to 7.30pm. For those wishing to attend or to inquire about sponsorship please email: abbey900ciren@gmail.com.