Both worship and service come in many forms, and our banners' purpose is not just to be adornments to be admired in themselves, but to contribute to and raise the level of worship in the church.

Some of the work of our banner-making group, such as the latest pair of circles (example shown left), are amazingly intricate and all the more remarkable considering the sheer scale of many of them. The circles are inspired by the 'rose windows' seen in cathedrals.

It's always a great moment when the church is enlivened by the appearance of a banner, particularly at special occasions in the church calendar.

The challenge of the re-ordered church
Joan Bridge, who co-ordinates the group, says; "Since the refurbishment in 2002/3, which altered the whole layout of the church and leaving large bare areas, the need for design and decoration has never been greater. The sheer size of the areas to be covered is quite challenging and physically demanding. Small banners of any kind, while suitable for the smaller rooms downstairs, make not the slightest impact in the main body of the church.

Because the layout is new and the shape has changed fundamentally, finding out what shapes and colours actually add to the beauty of the building is an ongoing challenge with failures as well as successes. We are learning as we go along!

In 2005 we made the two long corner banners (with a stained glass theme) and also the two large circular banners for the walls in the North and South transepts. In 2006, look out for a new banner for the entrance hall downstairs and also two new banners for Pentecost."

Why not join us?
At present our group is very small, and we would welcome anyone who would like to join us, especially someone who is creative and sews.