SAINT CLARE'S GUILD
The beginning membership was 50; over the years more than 120 people have taken the beginning class, most of whom have done at least one piece for the church. However, as one would expect, some of them found that needlepoint was not something that they liked to do.
All members must complete a sampler, designed to teach basic needlepoint skills, before stitching for the church. There are many different ways to needlepoint, but consistency is accomplished by everyone stitching exactly the same way. As a result, several people are able to stitch on the same piece and have it appear as if it had been done by one person.
St. Michael's needlepoint is unique because we have an in-house artist, who is also an excellent needlepointer. The designs for all the kneelers, chairs, benches, prayer desks and adaptations of the Saint's shields have been her work. All the designs are first shown to the Rector to make sure they are theologically and historically sound.
Hundreds of hours are required to perfect the designs, hand chart the designs on graph paper (we prefer this to using computerized charts), choose colors and threads, and prepare the canvases before the actual stitching can begin on any project
Four colors, green, red, blue, and purple are used as the background colors in the kneelers:
- GREEN is the liturgical color for the ordinary seasons of Epiphany and after Pentecost, and it symbolizes new life and regeneration.
- RED, symbolizing blood and fire, is used liturgically on some Holy Days commemorating the martyred Saints and feasts of the Holy Spirit.
- BLUE symbolizes Heaven and Truth and is the traditional color associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was decided to use blue instead of the liturgical white for the third background color on the kneelers.
- PURPLE is used liturgically in the seasons of Advent and Lent to represent sorrow and penitence. It is also traditionally the color for royalty which is suggestive of its usage in Advent.
Each kneeler was given as a thanksgiving to God or as a memorial for a loved one by a member of the parish. This practice has continued, making the Guild self sustaining. The finished stitching was all cleaned and blocked by members of the parish; then professionally upholstered.
Even before the completion of the pew kneelers, the choir loft kneelers were begun. Our Choirmaster, Dr. Daniel Jones, had asked that they be based on the 150th Psalm. The design represents medieval musical manuscript for chanting the psalm. The square musical notes are stitched on what looks like parchment. The capital letter of each verse is illuminated with some characteristic of that particular verse. Twelve of the kneelers are the twelve verses of the psalm and two are the Gloria Patria -- Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
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The Queen of Angels Chapel kneelers were begun in October 1987 and blessed in December 1988. There are 20 (12" x 14") individual stool kneelers and two (10" x 60") altar rail kneelers. The design has a crown superimposed on the M monogram for Mary in the center with angels in the four corners of the small kneelers focusing on the monogram. Another symbol for Mary is the fleur-de-lis; on the altar rail kneelers this symbol was used for the background motif.
After the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham was established in the Chapel, Father asked that the wall (reredos) behind the statue be decorated with the shields of Anglican Saints. These were executed quite quickly. Round wooden frames were stained and gilded to finish each shield. These 30 shields were blessed in 1991. In '95 two shields for St. Anne (Mary's mother) and St. Joseph (Mary's Most Chaste Spouse) were made for the wall beneath the statues of the two Saints which are mounted on the pillars of the west wall of the Lady Chapel. The kneeler for this Shrine was charted by a different parishioner and was blessed in '92.
Next came the establishment of the St. Clare Shrine in the Chapel and the addition of the 33 shields surrounding the statue of St. Clare to make the reredos match the one around the statue of Mary of Walsingham. The shield on the St. Clare kneeler has the same surrounding motifs of the Walsingham kneeler. The shield in the center is a monstrance, a symbol used to represent St. Clare.
The latest stitching for the Chapel to this point has been the fleur-de-lis pattern inserts installed in the doors of the altars at the Walsingham Shrine and the St. Clare Shrine. These were blessed December 2000.
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The blessing of the Altar Rail kneelers in February 1991 was a wonderful event. Although Father had asked for the Altar Rail kneelers from the very beginning of the needlepoint guild, it took 9 years for this to become a reality. In all the reading we had done about a church needlepoint project one point that was made very clear was, "Don't start with the Altar Rail because you should have your best stitching and best design at the Altar Rail." We learned a great deal in the intervening years and are glad we met those criteria.
The symbolism on these kneelers carried out the theme - "I AM THE VINE - YE ARE THE BRANCHES." Again the kneelers on the north side of the rail are the mirror image of the south side. In the center of each one is a different style of cross surrounded by the Crown of Thorns. The grapevine surrounding the crown of thorns forms the "All-seeing Eye of God" and also forms the Icthus (fish) for Jesus Christ. The grapes and leaves symbolize His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The columbine symbolizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The kneelers are reversible and are turned every Easter. The wedding kneelers have the same symbolism except the center cross with the wedding rings and the words on the boxing: "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND HOLY SPIRIT."
Projects that are continually being stitched and blessed at different times are the framed Angels in the Guild room (needlepointed from Mar Bek cross stitch charts), the framed Angels in the Parish hall (needlepointed from Lavender Lace Cross stitch charts), and the Christmas tree Angel ornaments (these are painted canvases from Stitch'n Stuff). At the present time there are 11 in the Guild room with 7 more in progress, 13 in the Parish hall with 4 more in progress. St. Michael and All Angels Church can never have too many angels!
The Angel ornaments began in 1993 and increase each year. Angels were the theme of Father's Christmas sermon in 1993, and he mentioned that even though 100+ was his desire, that Christmas there were only 18 on the tree. As the years have gone along, we now have 94 completed and blessed with 10 more being stitched. So his 100+ is coming soon.
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The calendar frame mats in the hallway were begun in early '94 and blessed in January '95. This project was the exclusive idea of the Rector. The project was the first one stitched on fabric rather than regular needlepoint canvas. (This meant that the background did not have to be needlepointed; all of the stitchers thought that was a great idea.) The fabric gave a very interesting look to the stitching. The grape vine on the mat is an adaptation from a chart found in a cross stitch book. The shields on each mat are the symbols for the Red-Letter Holy Days in each month.
The next big project was the three dimensional needlepoint Nativity set. These pieces are painted canvases designed by a California designer, Melissa Shirley. The set consisted of 13 standing figures stitched front and back. The human figures are 9 inches tall and the animals (camel, horse, and elephant) are approximately 12-13 inches tall. Five additional figures have been added. This set is displayed around the bottom of the Narthex Christmas tree with the 94 Angels adorning during Christmastide.
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The Chancel furniture consists of two prayer desks and chairs, used by the officiants during the praying of the Divine Office in the main church. Father asked that the wording on the prayer desk design use the first several lines of the Canticles for morning and evening prayer. Since the wording of these Canticles change with every revision of the Book of Common Prayer, he asked that we use the Latin form which will never change. These were completed in '97.
The Sanctuary project is truly to the Glory of God, as has all stitching been for St. Michael's. The Sanctuary of the church is the meeting place of God and man, where heaven comes down to us during the sacrifice of the Mass where we are told the angels ascend and descend upon the altar, as in the vision of Jacob's ladder.
The seat and bench backs in the Sanctuary resemble a window into heaven, a realm of endless light, where the six-winged Seraphs who are the highest order of angels, "veil their faces to the Presence" as they praise God without ceasing singing, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD OF HOSTS." One word of which is lettered above each of the medallions of light containing the Seraphim. The Seraphim are surrounded by decorative foliage, as in the Garden of Paradise. The medallions and surroundings are designed to replicate the disks and wrought iron scroll work of the Altar Rail. The seat cushions have smaller roundels showing the pomegranate, the symbol of the joys of heaven which await the faithful and the prayed-for unity of all Christians.
The Acolyte kneelers have the same artistic theme of roundels and decorative foliage as the chairs. These kneelers depict the processional cross, candles and incense pots borne by the Acolytes as they serve God by serving the Priests in their celebrations. In the center of these roundels is a Canterbury cross with extended arms and surrounding the cross are candles or incense pots.
From the research and study for these needlepoint pieces, and from the discipline of stitching, all members of St. Clare's Guild have learned much about the Church (the Body of Christ) and their faith has been intensified.
St. Clares Guild is constantly adding new projects. At the time of this writing there are over 500 pieces of needlepoint of all sizes throughout the building. Anyone visiting Denver and interested in visiting please call the church office - 303.777.5181 and a tour can be arranged.