Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Lenten Array press release . . .

the broderers team

Cathedral Broderers create new Altar Frontals and Vestments for Lent

Wednesday 13 February marks the beginning of Lent. As always at Durham Cathedral there was a special Sung Eucharist in the Evening with the Imposition of Ashes – that is the placing of an ash cross upon the forehead of congregation members is a reminder and celebration of human mortality.

This year the occasion saw the dedication of a new set of altar frontals and vestments created by the Cathedral’s Volunteer Broderers which will be used throughout the season of Lent. They have been designed by Tracy A Franklin, Head of the Cathedral Broderers and Durham based specialist embroiderer and designer. This is her first commission for the Cathedral and represents over four years work by the dedicated team of volunteers.

The Frontals and Vestments have been made using unbleached linen, the traditional material for Lenten Array. They depict the Crown of Thorns and the grasses of the wilderness, both of which represent Christ’s self-consecration and suffering but also the renewal and forgiveness.



Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Dedication of Lenten Array

high altar chasuble
The dedication of the Lenten Array this evening.  Picture showing The Reverend Canon Dr David Kennedy, next to the high altar, wearing the high altar chasuble showing the coloured desert grasses and a small crown of thorns on the front of the vestment.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

The beginning of Lent . . .

new high altar lenten array ready to be dedicated on Ash Wednesday
lenten altar frontal positioned on high altar

Lenten Array - High altar, nave altar and vestments ready to be dedicated at Ash Wednesday Sung Eucharist for the beginning of Lent and the Imposition of Ashes at 19:30 hours on 13th February 2013.


Many thanks to all the Broderers who have worked hard to finish this project and the support of Durham Cathedral and the Friends of Durham Cathedral.

Saturday, 9 February 2013

vestments for Lent

left to right - stoles, dalmatic, chasuble and tunicle for high altar; chasuble for nave altar
Completed today, all the vestments for Lent, all pressed and freshly ironed.  The chasuble, dalmatic and tunicle have a central panel of desert grasses, whilst the chasuble for the nave altar remains plain.  The linen representing sackcloth, the grasses the wilderness, and the colours, new life.

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

high altar for Lent - complete

near
far
High altar frontal now complete and on its wood frame ready for Ash Wednesday - the start of Lent.  It shows the desert grasses and the three dimensional crown of thorns designed by Tracy A Franklin and worked by the Durham Cathedral Broderers team.

high altar 8am this morning . . .

altar cloth draped over frame
attaching the altar cloth to the wood frame
The altar cloth for the high altar is now complete!  We started to attach it to the wood frame ready for the start of Lent in the Chapter House for next week . . .