Monday 26 August 2013

I've seen the beauty of Lyng, thanks to Carolyn

I'd like to dedicate this blog post to Carolyn Foley of caro-rose creations.
Carolyn blogs daily and her posts are always worth reading, be they about her cute grandchildren, art of the world, Australian life or, of course, textile. She is a teacher, not only to her students but to us all, and she has some great tutorials on her blog.

Now I don't know anyone who is as good at digging up information as Carolyn.
In December last year she had on her blog a series of angels, one for each day of Advent. On Dec 4th she showed an especially beautifully embroidered angel. It was from the  Lyng altar cloth.
Lyng is a small village in Norfolk, UK. Every summer I visit Norfolk and immediately thought I'd try to go and look at the altar cloth during my stay this year.

So a few weeks ago, together with friends, I went in search of St Margaret's of Lyng. The church is lodged in between the village pub and some of the cottages and not that easy to find access to. Like so many of the numerous old churches in East Anglia it is an important symbol of the village but in need of funds and a lot of Tender Loving Care.

To our delight we found the old altar cloth that is displayed in a glass case on the wall. So why is it not in use?

It is a 'patchwork', made up of several old vestments.
It seems likely that the church was completed in the early 1300 and the vestments might have been presented to the church at some time.
According to Patricia Hallert's pamphlet 'LYNG ALTAR CLOTH', 'Between 1558 and 1678 during the Protestant reigns of Edvard VI and Elizabeth I, many parish churches cut up their vestments to make them into frontals or cloths for the Communion table. Lyng cloth is cleverly constructed from three different vestments, all dating from the 15th century and of English workmanship. From 1678 onwards Lyng church terriers record an 'ancient carpet for the Communion table', which was the altar cloth.'
Furthermore, Ms Hallert notes in her pamphlet that there is a record of 1933 of the cloth being framed and hung.
In 1985 the altar cloth underwent restoration at the Textile Conservation Centre by Wendy Toulson and  has thereafter hung in its glass case on the south wall of the chancel.

As you can see, the reflections in the glass make it hard to see the beauty of the embroiery.
For better pictures and more facts, please go to the link that Carolyn has on her blog, Medieval Church Art.

However, there were other textile delights in the church. Look at the charming kneelers.
Carolyn, thank you for always giving us so much information, and inspiration to go textile trekking. Please keep up the good work!

12 comments:

Pamela said...

How interesting!

Isabelle said...

looking on the blog you've link, it seems that some stitches are Bayeux stitches, isn't it ?

JennyPennyPoppy said...

How wonderful that you were able to find and go to St Margaret's of Lyng! Really nice that the altar cloth is on display and it certainly is beautiful and old too. Love the kneelers!!

Queeniepatch said...

It was a wonderful feeling to stand in front of this piece of textile art in rural Britain and know I had learned about it while sitting at my computer in Japan from a blogger in Australia!

Queeniepatch said...

I can not tell you for sure, but I agree they do look like Bayeux stitches.

Queeniepatch said...

It was a fantastic experience, and a very beautiful cloth. Unfortunately the glass and the high position on the wall made it difficult to enjoy fully. And aren't the kneelers charming!

Julie Fukuda said...

I find it hard to believe there is anyone better at digging up information than you. Too bad the cloth has been hung in a place it can't be completely viewed ... after all, it is protected by glass.
Tanks for taking us along. Enjoy the last days of your holiday.

Queeniepatch said...

I have yet a lot to learn about the art of digging!
I will also have to learn how to grow temporarily taller to be able to see ecclesiastical textile treasures high on the walls of English country churches.
Now trying to learn how to deal with the heat wave in Tokyo that will shortly hit me.

margaret said...

how good was that to go and see this Church and its treasures. Safe journey home Queenie, it was lovely to have met you at the FOQ

Anonymous said...

What lovely treasures from the past, they are worth all the effort to see them!

Queeniepatch said...

I was very pleased with my visit to Lyng, and even more with my visit to FOQ and being able to meet up with you.
All the best!

Queeniepatch said...

The altar cloth was a delight to see but could have been presented better, it was too high up on the wall and with all those reflections in the glass, unfortunately.