Penny Warden is best known for The Journey, a striking contemporary interpretation of the Stations of the Cross. Permanently installed in Blackburn Cathedral since 2005, these 15 life-size paintings use faceless, expressive figures and an implied cross to draw viewers into deep, personal reflection.
Simon Jenkins (England’s Cathedrals) described them as:
“Brittle and uncomforting… they give the cathedral an undeniably aesthetic potency.”
Christian leaders have also praised the work:
Rt Revd Rowan Williams: “Outstanding and very moving.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “Wonderfully creative; considerable healing potential.”
The Journey might never have been created without support from the Christian Arts Trust (CAT). In 2000, CAT awarded Penny a grant for The Phoenix Series, 12 large-scale paintings on suffering and resurrection that toured 10 English cathedrals. This led directly to the Blackburn commission in 2004.
For two decades, The Journey has been central to Holy Week and Easter services, with devotional materials extending its impact beyond the cathedral.
In gratitude, Penny became a major CAT donor and, since 2005, a Trustee—bringing vision, experience, and deep commitment to CAT’s mission of nurturing artists who enrich faith and culture.
