This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 27 September 2016. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
CONGREGATION members at St Nicholas Church, Kingsey in Buckinghamshire, have had a creative summer with an Artist in Residence project to renew their beautiful Victorian Easter Altar Frontal. The work has been carried out by Elizabeth Bond, a Kingsey resident and graduate of the Royal School of Needlework.
The frontal was made for the opening of the church in 1893 and was by tradition embroidered by Georgiana Wykeham of Tythrop House, Kingsey.
It has become worn and torn over the years, and it seemed a fitting way to proclaim the presence of the risen Christ in our church by taking the time to renew it, while opening the church to the community over the summer months. More than 250 people visited the church, where over 100 took up the challenge to "put in a stitch" as the motifs from the original frontal were carefully transferred to a new traditional backing of silk and linen.
Elizabeth has been supported by her husband Mark, who provided tea and cake, and gave visitors a historical tour of the church, with its Victorian architecture and internal furnishings.
The opportunity to put a stitch in really captured people's imaginations, with several people returning to stitch for extended periods during the summer.
Many visitors shared some amazing stories about their connections with Kingsey and the church. The project was funded by a mission grant from Aylesbury Deanery and a legacy from a benefice church member.
Completion is for Christmas 2016 when the frontal will next be in use.
Elizabeth and Mark are compiling a record of the materials and techniques used on the frontal, along with the history of the church and village.
It will list the names of those who have stitched and serve as a snapshot of our time for future generations.