In the third of a series of articles, Susan Allison reflects on a community project which created nearly 50 kneelers for Christ Church, each with a story to tell and each recording a snapshot of present-day Wanstead
This community project got underway at the Wanstead Festival in September 2024, when stitching began on the first kneeler. Over the following 12 months, another 40-plus kneelers were stitched by numerous members of the community, celebrating the diversity of people and experiences in our village.
Every kneeler (or hassock) tells a story. Working with a uniform deep-blue background, kneelers were either purchased directly from stock, modified or uniquely designed to mark a person, business or organisation in Wanstead. Some people chose to purchase and work on their own kneeler, some sponsored a kneeler for someone else to work on and some were purchased
through a generous bequest from John Sunley, a former member of Christ Church’s congregation.
The kneelers were presented to the church in October 2025, along with a guidebook that is available to purchase (£5; in aid of the church tower restoration fund), but the project is not over yet. We are now preparing an exhibition of the kneelers and their stories, which will be on show at this year’s Wanstead Festival. All project documents will then be collated and archived. This project demonstrates Christ Church’s community engagement, a vital component in securing funding for the refurbishment of the church and the restoration of the church tower.
Horse Chestnut Leaf
Sewn by: Claire Metcalfe
Dedicated to: Bert Hamilton
Bert Hamilton (1919–2005) grew up in Walthamstow before moving to Wanstead in 1952 with his wife, Gwen. A dedicated member of Christ Church, he was deeply involved in both community service and local government. During World War Two, Bert served in the RAF Technical Branch before transferring to the RAF Volunteer Reserve, where he remained until 1954. He later became an active member of the RAF Association, chairing the local branch for several years. A respected public servant, Bert served as a ward councillor for Wanstead for 25 years from the establishment of the London Borough of Redbridge in 1965. He was Mayor of Redbridge (1978–79) and served as Deputy Mayor three times. The design of this kneeler reflects the Redbridge borough logo. Bert was a strong supporter of numerous local charities and organisations. In 1993, he began organising coach holidays for the elderly of Redbridge, arranging hotels, outings and evening entertainment.
Time for Tea
Sewn by: Wanstead Women’s Institute
Dedicated to: Wanstead’s women
When the information about making new kneelers for Christ Church went out, Wanstead Women’s Institute members were asked if they would like to take part by funding a kit and taking part in sewing if they wished. They voted to do so. Once the kit had been chosen and purchased, it was passed around to those crafters who felt confident working on it alone. It was also worked on at meetings by novices, helped by experienced stitchers. ‘Time for Tea’ seemed an appropriate design for the WI, plus it had lots of small areas that different individuals could complete without being too daunting. Wanstead WI has a membership of around 100.
For more information on the project, visit wnstd.com/kneelers
