STOURTON and GASPER HISTORY

Those who visit this lovely church and may be interested in the craft of needlepoint, might like to know something about how the work began. It was born through the Stourton and Zeals W.I.. Of all of the skills and courses that were offered for over sixty years, together with their spiritual ideals of fellowship, truth, tolerance and justice, CRAFT became the most popular. After the Stourton & Zeals W.I. closed down in 1994 the Craft classes continued in members' homes.

Olive Barnett and Margaret Trussler were of a single mind. Why not do work of lasting importance and thus leave lasting skills. First of all we were inspired by the lovely kneelers of our neighbouring parish in Mere and were invited to one of their needlepoint classes. Having seen the work they were doing we were a little daunted and left without accepting their charitable cup of tea. Having walked down through Mere we soon collected ourselves, saying one to the other " Of course it CAN be done!". Olive agreed to be 'the strict one' because she was already proficient and efficient in every respect that was necessary for this project, whilst the latter, dearly loving most forms of needlework, wanted only to encourage others and keep everyone together.

Thus the idea soon developed and this small group decided that they all wanted to create something that today's worshippers could use as well as admire and with the approval of our Rector at this time — The Rev. Brian Atkinson work began.

Initially it took a little time to decide exactly how the designs should work and there was a debate about colours. Finally it was decided on an overall design to be worked in wine colour to tone in with the Victorian titles in the main aisle, a border of blue to tone in with the blue of the chancel carpet and a diamond in the centre (also to be worked in blue) leaving this for individual choice of a motif in the centre of each kneeler. On one side of the Kneeler the year it was worked and on the opposite end the person's initials. The work to be done on ten threads to the inch canvas and the stitches to be used would mainly be tent stitch, the border long — legged cross stitch and the outline of the side — borders, double cross stitch.

The work has been a truly co-operative effort in the best W.I. tradition. Choosing individual motifs was by far the most interesting and fun side of the project — whether it was a religious one or something of a personal choice. It was generally felt that the W.I. having to close down, one should be worked with the W.I. logo, so when it was dedicated it would be like laying up the colours. Each kneeler contains more than 30,000 stitches, 200 hours of work (not to mention unpicking time!) and many happy hours of friendship spent fortnightly either by a log fire or in the sunlit window at Gasper Cottage. These meetings have been a joy and inspiration to us all and we freely exchange constructive crititicism and the skill and enthusiasm which they display is a credit to all concerned. The first batch of over thirty kneelers has only taken sixteen months to be worked and upholstered and it was thought it would be lovely to see the work dedicated on a special day so that a target date could be reached.

The work started on March the 4th 1994 and the first batch of kneelers were to be dedicated on Sunday the 2rd of July 1995, it being the nearest Sunday to the church's patron saint - Saint Peter. With the initial project completed a number of people are still enjoying making hassock's and as long as there are places in the church which need to be filled, it is hoped that there will always be someone willing to continue this excellent work.