This year sees the 60th anniversary of the formation of Hereford Cathedral Broderers, a team of dedicated volunteers who create, repair and restore embroidery work on display across Hereford Diocese. To mark the occasion the Cathedral will be hosting an exhibition in the south aisle of the cathedral nave, sharing some of the history of the group and the work they produce.

Formed in 1964, the group currently has seven members who meet once a week to work in their dedicated space in the Cathedral’s Cloisters. Projects include designing and making altar frontals, needlepoint cushions and restoring decades old embroidery. Their work is visible in over thirty churches throughout Herefordshire, including Hereford Cathedral.

The exhibition, which is on display from Tuesday 30 July to Sunday 18 August, will feature samples of the Broderers work alongside information about the group and examples of previous projects. There will be an opportunity to meet the Broderers on Wednesdays throughout the exhibition as they work in the South Transept.

 

Mary Roberts, Head of Hereford Cathedral Broderers, said: “We are so pleased to be able to display and demonstrate the work that the Broderers do every Wednesday in our studio in the Cloisters. The names of many early Broderers are unknown but their work in churches through Hereford Diocese is a testament to their skill and dedication. We continue this tradition of making and maintaining items for liturgical use which requires a wide variety of embroidery techniques, great attention to detail and patience as some pieces can take up to three years.”

The Very Revd Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford, said: “I am very much looking forward to seeing the Broderers step into the limelight for this exhibition. I suspect that few people know of the existence - or indeed of the extraordinary skill of these volunteers who are responsible for the creation and restoration of so many of the fine textiles in use, not just in this cathedral church in parish churches the length and breadth of the diocese. Volunteers such as our Broderers have been for many centuries, and continue to be, the backbone of the Church of England as they serve God and the Christian communities of this land by sustaining traditional crafts and skills, telling stories of gospel and place but bringing today’s designs and ideas into this traditional work.” 

In Prayse of the needle: 60 years of Hereford Cathedral Broderers will be on display in the south aisle of the cathedral nave from Tuesday 30 July – Sunday 18 August 2024 and will be free to visit during normal opening hours.