The Guild of St Clare (Wandsworth) Chapter has arranged vestment repair workshops at the church of St Mary Magdalen on the following dates: 28th March, 16th May, 27th June, 12th September, 10th October and 19th December (TBC). All are welcome, including complete beginners.
For more information please contact the Chapter Leader on gosc.wandsworth@lms.org.uk .
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Ancilla writes: At Withermarsh Green Chapter we decided last year to embark on a large project: a Liturgical Banner in honour of our Chapel's Patron, St Edmund.
This is no small undertaking but will involve basic to advanced hand sewing techniques, like those taught at the Royal School of Needlework (where the Guild of St Clare regularly organises workshops and has a sponsorship scheme).
All members, young and old, newbs and veterans, have the opportunity to be involved at all stages of the project, giving their input and bringing their unique skills to the piece. It is a rare opportunity to be involved in such a project as nowadays liturgical banners are generally just for the professional sphere.
Currently we have just completed the design phase and ready to begin sewing at our next meeting. We spent two meeting entirely dedicated to designing; taking inspiration from images of St Edmund found in art, illuminated manuscripts from the time period, and the Bayeux Tapestry, as well as free hand drawing.
We wanted to impregnate the image with symbolism. For example, St Edmund was martyred on a tree, a correlation to Our Lord on the Cross. We drew St Edmund’s tree in a more “cross” like shape. Another example, the pagans are imaged on the left of St Edmund, while to his right side will be pilgrims (families including children, as well as monks) ascending towards Bury St Edmunds Medieval Cathedral. The previously mentioned tree will be depicted as having its seeds (acorns) on the pagan side, as it is the blood of the martyrs which water the seeds of faith to the unbelieving. While on the right side, or Christian side, the tree is flowering, blooming with verdant life, the culmination of the sacrifice of the martyr having been united to Jesus Christ brings about conversion and true living.
As you can imagine, it’s an exciting project, and like all things that are worthwhile it will cost a lot of prayers, time and money. Our Chapter has started raising funds in order to pay for the material needs of the banner, such as silk and velvet fabrics, specialised paints and threads, etc. As Chapter Leader I will be training up to do a 10k run on the 9th May. Please consider helping our Chapter by going to the JustGiving page. May God, through Sts Clare & Edmund, reward your generosity!
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gosc-withermarsh
This weekend we fire the starting gun for our annual Lenten Vestment Mending Challenge at the February Sewing Retreat at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill.
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| Maniples repaired during the Challenge of 2023 |
The Challenge is a beautiful way of augmenting your Lenten devotions. Vestment mending is three times a service to the Church: it is simultaneously an alms to our priests, a Corporal Work of Mercy, and also a contemplative prayer in itself.
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| Passiontide crucifix veil made by Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem during last year's Challenge |
Anyone who would like is welcome to join our Challenge, and if you have no vestment to mend, we will be happy to send you something suitable for your skill level - beginners included.
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| Chasuble of Our Lady of Guadalupe repaired during the 2025 Challenge |
There is a WhatsApp chat for support and encouragement too. To find out more or to participate, please email Lucy on guildofstclare@lms.org.uk .
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| A young participant at work on her 2023 Challenge project |
Booking is open for our next Sewing Retreat, which will take place between 13th-15th November 2026, at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill.
Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem, a great friend of the Guild of St Clare, has very kindly agreed to be our chaplain.
The Sewing Retreats always book up very quickly, so if you would like to come, don't delay in registering! More details about our retreats can be found here.
The Guild of St Clare is collaborating with the Royal School of Needlework to provide a special one day course, making miniature embroidered mitres. This is a unique opportunity to practise the skill of ecclesiastical embroidery and learn how to make a mitre using traditional hand construction techniques, in the beautiful setting of the RSN's teaching apartments at Hampton Court Palace. The tuition will be provided by RSN tutor Heather Lewis, who has led many courses for the Guild of St Clare in the past.
Heather leading our burse making course at the RSN in March 2020
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| Heather's embroidery sampler |
The Guild of St Clare is delighted to be opening the New Year with a new Chapter, our first in Scotland. The Scottish Chapter will meet for the first time on 31st January at Lawside Convent, home of the Marian Franciscans.
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I will be attending the launch meeting myself, and am looking forward enormously to meeting the volunteers and practising the beautiful art of vestment mending in this most romantic setting. Please pray for a successful inauguration!
Side-by-side it is easy to see the theme running through all eight panels, the River Orwell, which has been wonderfully created with silk velvet. Each panel represents a century, taking a snapshot of what was happening and what Ipswich Town looked like.
It really is very well done, with a variety of stitches and mediums used to create the story of time and place. The main technique used is Applique, which will be familiar to many and is the first course of the Diploma offered at the RSN. There is also quite a bit of Goldwork, scattered throughout the panels.
