The Christ Church banner though, presented much more complex problems! Dating from much earlier (from the style of stitching and the dyes used we estimate its date to be c1860 – 70) the blue background had perished beyond repair due to the corrosive nature of the blue dyes used at the time. However the beautiful embroidery of Our Lady with Child, the wording and the other decoration was salvageable.
The Christ Church Mothers Union banner before restoration
The lettering and applique, including the depiction of Our Lady was carefully cut away from the background and the stitching carefully repaired using a variety of sympathetic threads. Once all these had been removed, what was left of the original background was measured and a paper pattern made to the same size and shape . This was then transferred to new blue fabric, as near as possible to the original style.
During…
The applique work was then attached to the new backing using a variety of techniques including stitching and gluing. The final phase of restoration was to line and weight the banner, and re attach the braid that had been salvaged. New ribbon (the original had perished) was also attached, and once hung, new gold rope was added.
And after restoration, and re-hung in church.
The banner was placed in church on display for the first time since Christ Church had closed in 1974.
The High Altar in Christ Church c1972, showing the banner in its original position
CHOIR BANNER
The latest addition is a choir banner, for processional use and for when the choir sing outside the church building. It depicts S. Cecilia, the Patron Saint of music and the name of the church.
The figure of S. Cecilia begins to take shape as of August 2015.
ALTAR FRONTALS
New altar frontals for the Lady Chapel and High Altar were created during summer 2016, and blessed in September.