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In 1189 King Richard 1 granted a Charter to the Borough
of Northampton. To celebrate the 825th Anniversary in
2014, Northampton Borough Council commissioned a
tapestry panel to be created. The tapestry was designed
by local artist Chris Fiddes in the form of a triptych,
the centre having one large panel and two smaller
panels, and the two sides each having four smaller
panels, to be produced separately by individuals and
groups - and St Matthew's Craft Group was invited to
stitch one of these. The design changed slightly since
Chris' original sketch, but the layout remained the
same.
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The group was pleased to take on the project, though
with a great deal of trepidation when we saw the
beautiful linen and wool we would be using to stitch our
panel. We were told we could be as creative as we liked
although keeping within the drawing on the linen. After
our nerves had settled down and we looked and looked
again at what we had taken on, we began stitching.
Margaret Burgess was one of the main stitchers with Joy
Riley also doing a great deal; Mary Wallis did a
reasonable amount, mostly the walls. Other stitchers in
the Craft Group contributed and Fr Nicholas, invited to
come along and see how we were progressing, also had a
go and stitched part of the stonework, doing a very good
job! It would be fair to say it was a challenge and at
times we felt daunted by the amount of work, but we
completed our panel on time and it looked really lovely.
It had been hoped that the entire Charter Tapestry would
be ready by the end of last year, but the enormity of
the task had delayed production. Our panel was brought
to church for everyone to view before it went off to be
added to the tapestry. The Charter Tapestry was unveiled
by the Mayor of Northampton and Councillor Penelope
Flavell in the Court Room of the Guildhall on Wednesday
18 November 2015 and is now on display for everyone to
view.
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