Vestry Sewing Guild fundraiser

The group was formed in the 1950's to maintain the vestments and linen for use in St Peter's church.

There are 10 members who get together every week for a meeting that is social but also productive and they are currently working on a chasuble, which is like a tabard, to be used by the Reverend Daniel Smith.

The group is spearheaded by Marion Cantrell who has been an ecclesiastical embroiderer for 40 years and has been with Vestry Sewing Guild for 34 of those, joining when the Canon Michael Townroe was at St Peter's.

She said: "My main aim has always been to encourage members of the congregation to take part and sew and be creative.

"People have their skills. It is a matter of encouraging them."

The work they do is obviously time-consuming and highly demanding - apart from working on new creations there is regular repair work to be done, and one of their tasks has been to complete 75 kneelers in the north aisle area, all canvas embroidered with leaves of trees.

"We are celebrating 60 years in 2010 and for that we are making a new altar frontal. It will be a traditional frontal but we are making it as a memorial of all past members." Marion commented: "It is social - it is chatting as you work, but it is also partial, and we support each other. It is quite a unique organisation within the church because I think we are caring for each other and others in the congregation, and doing this creative work as well."

The event on Saturday morning was to raise funds for materials The Vestry Sewing Guild can use, but also for the Flower Festival in September which members are showing strong support for, and have volunteered already to act as stewards.

Marion said: "It has been steady. We have had cakes, flowers and craft materials."