Textile banners, designed to be hung in cathedrals, will be on show at a Gaunless valley Methodist chapel during a two-day exhibition to celebrate Easter.
Etherley Methodist Chapel is hosting the exhibition of 20 banners that form part of a larger Deo Gloria Trust collection, created by Devon-based artist Jacqui Parkinson.
The banners, that have two distinct themes – the journey and the servant king – have been loaned to the chapel for the exhibition and will be on public display on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday April 20, between 10am and 3pm.
Chapel leaders and keen crafters Marie Cadman and Glenys Egglestone were inspired to organise the exhibition after attending a display at Hexham Abbey which featured 20ft tapestries by the same artist.
Mrs Cadman said: “They were really impressive, but they would have been too big for our chapel.
“The work that has gone into them is so intricate.
“When we got home, we researched the artist and found out although she lived in Devon she had originally come from Manchester, where I was from, so we got in touch.”
The 20 banners that form the exhibition were created by Ms Parkinson between 2006 and 2011, commissioned by the Deo Gloria Trust.
She added: “Most of the banner tapestries Ms Parkinson makes are designed for cathedrals and are huge, but we will be displaying much smaller ones that each measure six feet by two feet.”
The banners have toured most of the cathedrals in England, but it is the first time they will be on display in County Durham.
Ten of the banners represent the four stations of the cross with the other ten representing the hymn The Servant King by Graham Kendrick.
Mrs Egglestone said: “The craftmanship in the banners is really impressive and when you get up close you see the detail that has gone into them.
“The exhibition is not only to celebrate Easter but to encourage people from the wider community to come in.
“The church has about 20 regulars, but we have a lot of support from the wider community who don’t necessarily attend. We do regular events like this to appeal to the wider community and to increase the numbers into the chapel.”
During the two-day exhibition, which is free to attend, chapel organist Jean Slack will be providing music and her beautifully knitted tableau, The Last Supper, will also be on display.
Refreshments and food will be available at the chapel’s five-star rated café throughout.
Mrs Cadman added: “Bell’s Factory, across the road from the chapel, is allowing us to use their car park for the exhibition openings so there will also be plenty of space for people to park.”
