In the seventh of a series of articles, Susan Allison reports on the culmination of a community project which created nearly 50 kneelers for Christ Church, each recording a snapshot of present-day Wanstead
While the September 2024 Wanstead Festival saw the first stitches made in the Community Kneeler as part of the Kneelers for Christ Church project, the September 2026 Wanstead Festival saw the official finale of the project taking place in Christ Church.
Visitors saw displays telling the backstories to several of the kneeler images and a short display telling how the project was conceived.
A cake-decorating competition and silent auction, donations and sales of guidebooks and friendship bracelet kits using leftover yarns from the project raised just over £100 for the Inspire Wanstead fund. The day was brought to a wonderful uplifting close when Tina Lloyd-Morris led an ad hoc assembled group of stitchers, funders, visitors and friends and family in Kneelers, her song inspired by and written for the project.
So, what next? Friendship bracelet kits (priced 25p) with instructions and yarn will remain on sale, as will the few remaining guide booklets (£5). A digital guide is also being developed. Plus, a complete multi-media archive is being compiled for future researchers to learn more about this snapshot of Wanstead life, and the whole project and archive will be encapsulated in a limited edition publication (watch this space). Finally, a very big thank you to everyone who made this wonderful project possible.
Green Woodpecker
Dedicated to: The Ayto & Bloomfield Families
Sewn by: Elizabeth Ayto
I have lived in Wanstead my entire life, worshipping at St Mary’s with my family and grandparents (the Bloomfields) when I was young. I am married to Josh and have two amazing boys, Rupert and Albert. All three have made contributions to the sewing of the kneeler. I decided to get involved in the kneeler project when I first heard about it. I’ve always loved crafting, but often start lots of projects and never end up finishing them. I offered to help set up a spreadsheet and found myself as part of the kneeler project management group! It has been fun getting to know other members of the community. I chose the Woodpecker kneeler as there are some lovely large trees in my garden, a few branches of which have started to die, but they make a great habitat for the bugs and woodpeckers. In nice weather, I’ll be working away in my office with the window open and I can hear the ratatatat of the woodpecker, trying to get to all the bugs. This has been one of the highlights of working from home.
Camborne: Floral Bouquet
Dedicated to: Penelope (Pen) Garlick
Sewn by: Carol Pummell & Jan Andrews
This kneeler is based on a floral design called Camborne. It was chosen to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Penelope Garlick and her contribution to the Parish of Wanstead, reflecting her great love of gardens. Penelope was a volunteer at the local Royal Horticultural Society gardens and an enthusiastic supporter of the parish Gardening Club. At some time or another, Pen held pretty much every voluntary office and role in the parish. Not only did her involvement guarantee the task would be completed well, to a high standard and in a timely fashion, but that it would be done with cheerfulness and an open heart. On top of this she was also a governor at Wanstead Church School! Pen – a wife, mother, grandmother and loyal friend – sadly died in February 2023. Thank you for everything, Pen.
For more information on the project, email kneelers4cc@gmail.com
