A Tapestry of Time (2013)

A Tapestry of Time celebrated 125 years of St Mary in Charnwood Church. The arrangements reflected on the constants and variables experienced since the building was completed in 1888 and hoped to demonstrate to visitors what made this place a unique house of prayer.

It was also the first flower festival following the Reordering Project, which saw the chancel area opened up into a more flexible worship space. 

No-one is quite sure which St Mary the church is dedicated to, but this arrangement portrays Mary the mother of God, arranged around a wooden carving given by a former curate. 

St Mary

  'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Amen.' Hebrews 13:8

Memorial Stone and Garden of Remembrance

There have been many additions and alterations to the physical building over the years - for example the old pipe organ was replaced by a digital one and there is a hi-tech sound system and induction loop...

The building

The Paget family were closely linked to the church - in my lifetime, the late Miss Joan Paget used to sit in 'her' pew every Sunday. The family motto reads 'Hope and Persevere'.

'Espere et persevere'

When the church was built, in Victorian times, only men could be clergy (left hand side). In modern times, we have seen a great many women step forward to ordination (right hand side). 

Changes in ordained ministry

Music is vital to worship, and although St Mary's formal robed (in blue) choir no longer exists, we have a more informal choir which sings once a month and at weddings, wearing purple scarves or ties.

Music

This building has seen the reign of six monarchs so far - the orb is made entirely of close-packed yellow roses.

Your majesty

 Children's work has always featured in the church. Our Teddy Bear's Picnic is an annual summer event and Christingles, in aid of The Children's Society, are celebrated by us at Epiphany.

Christingle

Teddy Bear's picnic

From the King James version to The Message, there is an interpreation or translation of the bible to suit all tastes, yet the good news remains constant...

The Bible

A bit tongue in cheek, but Hatch Match and Dispatch refers to baptism, marriage and death.

Hatch, Match and Dispatch

Baptism

Marriage - all the hearts had the names of couples married at St Mary's over the years,
 and visitors were invited to add more to the 'skirt' during the festival days.

Death...Victorian style

St Marys used to observe the blessing of the Plough in January and still observes Rogation in May (with a walk through the grounds of Nanpantan Hall instead of around the Parish boundary) and Harvest in October.

A country Church

The sampler, stitched with the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1, forms the backdrop to the changing seasons and changes in life - yet whatever life brings us, God is constant.

A Time and Season

 St Mary's tithes to a variety of charities, both local and further afield, often with a close connection to our congregation. The landing and windows were filled with smaller arrangements for each of the ten charities supported.

In celebration of tithing to charity

A flower festival is usually so busy, there is no quiet space in church to pray. So we make the upstairs room in the Chapter House our 'Quiet Room'. The rainbow cloth was made for Fabric and Flowers by our young people and depicts a rainbow - God's promise of love for us.

God's Promise - Quiet Room

Liturgical colours are reflected in the priest's vestments and altar cloths; white signifies a festival (Easter or Christmas for eg), red at Pentecost or for the commemoration of saints, purple for waiting and preparation (usually Lent and Advent) and green for growth during the rest of the year. 

The Church's Year