Opus Anglicanum

Opus Anglicanum or English work is fine needlework of Medieval England done for ecclesiastical or secular use on clothing, hangings or other textiles, often using gold and silver threads on rich velvet or linen grounds.

 

So now you know!

 

 

The rich and powerful mediaeval church owned vast amounts of this

stuff which was often donated by wealthy parishoners in the

hope of currying favour in this world and the next.  Amen.

 

 

However, here at St Ed's - King, Martyr and thoroughly all round good

egg - we have no such treasures in our coffers contenting ourselves

with the ancient font, rood screen and Graffito!

 

But that's not to say we don't have anything embroidered.

Oh my goodness no - far from it!

 

This one's rather jolly.

 

There's a certain uniformity about them, see one and you
feel that you've seen them all.

 

We have kneelers, kneelers and more kneelers all lovingly wrought

by the good ladies of the Parish.  (The bad ladies were out

having a much better time elsewhere).

 

I would just say that lions became extinct in Acle
during the 13th century.

 

And the sparkling little jewel in our crown is a tapestry

depicting the church in all it's glory and because it sparkles

so much it was damn near impossible to photograph

in it's entirety but I have done my best to capture the

spirit of the piece.  Another time I will pick a less sunny day

with perhaps better results.

 

 

 

All together now as we sign Hymn No 375

(nobody dare shout "House")

"As with gladness men of old ....." but that's probably a story

for another day and might explain where the bad ladies were

when everyone else was stitching bloody kneelers.