Chapter Leaders' Lace day

Lucy writes: The Guild of St Clare had their summer get-together on Saturday 18th July, at the parish hall of St Gregory & St Augustine, Oxford. It's always a pleasure to meet in person, and we had a particular treat on this occasion: a workshop on lace restoration, conducted by lace expert and long-time friend of the Guild of St Clare, Liz Baker.

We are extremely fortunate to have Liz's help. Experts in lace, particularly hand-made bobbin lace which Liz particularly loves, are very small in number, and decreasing all the time, and yet the lace itself is enormously prized, not least in traditional circles. Repairing rents and holes in lace, whether hand or machine made, requires an understanding of the way the lace is made and the materials used. This, Liz did her best to pass on to us on Saturday.

She showed us a number of samples of lace, and also the different threads and bobbins used, before moving on to discussing the repairs we had brought with us. I have a very beautiful black mantilla, bequeathed to me by a much-loved relation, which has such big tears in it that I had feared it couldn't be mended, but Liz was reassuring. I will need to source some black conservation net (or I can dye some), and use it to patch the holes.

Naturally there were a number of albs also needing attention, and with Liz's help we had a go. It's time-consuming and very fiddly!

A Guild of St Clare meeting would be unthinkable without tea and cake, and this was not lacking.

Many thanks to Clare Auty, the Oxford Chapter Leader, for organising such an enjoyable and valuable day.

All For Jesus Through Mary

Ancilla writes: Withermarsh Green Chapter completed one of its longer projects today, that of a new mantle for Our Lady’s statue. I think it was Providence which allowed for its slow completion so that we would have the pleasure of presenting it to Our Lady on Her Feast Day, Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Rev Father blessing the garment

 

There is a really profound joy that comes from a project well done; when God has given you this small way to build up His Kingdom, and this more so when you get to do it through Our Lady. I had the thought: would I have had this opportunity without the Guild of St Clare? God knows, but I pray that Our Lady continues to obtain many blessing for the Guild so that like opportunities can be given to many throughout these British Isles. 

 

Three Chapter members having just clothed Our Lady

 

O gentle Mother

Who in Carmel reigns,

Share with your servants

That gladness you gained

and now enjoy.

 

Hail, Gate of Heaven,

With glory now crowned,

Bring us to safety

Where thy Son is found,

true joy to see. Amen.  

 

 

Royal School of Needlework Graduation Day

Lucy writes: I am delighted to have graduated from the RSN Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery with distinction this summer, and I joined other Certificate and Diploma graduates for a small celebration on 14th July.

The RSN holds an annual exhibition of graduates' work, and among the pieces on display were my silk shading: The Oxford Dodo, and also my Whitework: Broderie Anglaise and Richelieu: Fragments from the Book of Kells.

It has taken more than ten years to complete both the Certificate and Diploma, and it has been a pleasure to get to know the RSN and its dedicated staff over that time.

I will continue to attend lessons, though less frequently than before, as I have begun work on the technique known as Both Sides Alike, where the back of the embroidery is identical to the front. This is difficult to master and may take me some time! However, I am glad to be continuing my very happy association with the RSN, and with my fellow students.

Heaven Always Provides

 Ancilla writes: I would like to express my sincere thanks to all who donated, prayed for, and encouraged me in raising funds for the Withermarsh Green Chapter by running 10k. The total amount raised was £820! May St Edmund obtain for you all an abundance of heavenly blessings!

The race was held at Burghley Estate, Cambridgeshire on Saturday 9th May, with the holy angels providing glorious weather conditions. The atmosphere was good and the track itself was fun with a combination of roads and long grass. There were over 380 participants on the day. My race time was 01:14:27 for 10.5km. 

Now to the hard work of making St Edmund's Banner. Our next meeting in June will see us progress further with the project and we will hopefully provide updates along the way. Please be assured of our prayers to all benefactors of the project. 

Royal School of Needlework Sponsorship Scheme 2026

The Guild of St Clare is delighted to invite applications for our annual Sponsorship Scheme, which provides 50% of the fees for the prestigious Certificate Course in Technical Hand Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework.

Jacobean Crewelwork, by Miranda de Burgh

The RSN Certificate Course takes between one and four years, depending on how intensively students wish to do it. Its great flexibility makes it ideal for those who can only spare limited time, or whose availability fluctuates over the year. The Certificate gives its graduates a thorough grounding in a range of traditional hand-embroidery skills, skills for which the RSN is renowned. It teaches four core techniques: Jacobean Crewelwork, Silk Shading, Goldwork and Canvaswork, and is taught in various locations across the UK: at the main teaching apartments at Hampton Court Palace and also at satellites in Bristol, Durham, Rugby and Glasgow. It is also now possible to study for the Certificate Course online.

Jacobean Crewelwork, James Surry

The skills acquired through the Certificate Course are essential to the art of vestment mending and making. As such, it is an important part of the mission of the Guild of St Clare to foster and share them as much as possible, for the benefit of the Church. As a condition of acceptance of the Sponsorship, successful candidates must take part in at least one Guild of St Clare Sewing Retreat each year.

Silk shading, Lucy Shaw

The deadline for applications is 21st June. For more information on how to apply, click here, or email Lucy on guildofstclare@lms.org.uk for more details.

Dates announced for meetings at St Mary Magdalen, Wandsworth

The Guild of St Clare (Wandsworth) Chapter has arranged vestment repair workshops at the church of St Mary Magdalen on the following dates: 28th March, 16th May and 27th June. All are welcome, including complete beginners. 

For more information please contact the Chapter Leader on gosc.wandsworth@lms.org.uk .

Fundraising for Withermarsh Green Chapter

Ancilla writes: At Withermarsh Green Chapter we decided last year to embark on a large project: a Liturgical Banner in honour of our Chapel's Patron, St Edmund.

This is no small undertaking but will involve basic to advanced hand sewing techniques, like those taught at the Royal School of Needlework (where the Guild of St Clare regularly organises workshops and has a sponsorship scheme).

All members, young and old, newbs and veterans, have the opportunity to be involved at all stages of the project, giving their input and bringing their unique skills to the piece. It is a rare opportunity to be involved in such a project as nowadays liturgical banners are generally just for the professional sphere.

 

Currently we have just completed the design phase and ready to begin sewing at our next meeting. We spent two meeting entirely dedicated to designing; taking inspiration from images of St Edmund found in art, illuminated manuscripts from the time period, and the Bayeux Tapestry, as well as free hand drawing. 

We wanted to impregnate the image with symbolism. For example, St Edmund was martyred on a tree, a correlation to Our Lord on the Cross. We drew St Edmund’s tree in a more “cross” like shape. Another example, the pagans are imaged on the left of St Edmund, while to his right side will be pilgrims (families including children, as well as monks) ascending towards Bury St Edmunds Medieval Cathedral. The previously mentioned tree will be depicted as having its seeds (acorns) on the pagan side, as it is the blood of the martyrs which water the seeds of faith to the unbelieving. While on the right side, or Christian side, the tree is flowering, blooming with verdant life, the culmination of the sacrifice of the martyr having been united to Jesus Christ brings about conversion and true living.

 

As you can imagine, it’s an exciting project, and like all things that are worthwhile it will cost a lot of prayers, time and money. Our Chapter has started raising funds in order to pay for the material needs of the banner, such as silk and velvet fabrics, specialised paints and threads, etc. As Chapter Leader I will be training up to do a 10k run on the 9^th May. Please consider helping our Chapter by going to the JustGiving page. May God, through Sts Clare & Edmund, reward your generosity! 

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/gosc-withermarsh 

February Sewing Retreat: report

 Lucy writes: Our annual February Retreat took place between 13th and 15th February at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire. Our chaplain, Fr Andrew Southwell, gave us a series of talks on holiness, with a particular focus on the spirituality and mission of St Clare, our heavenly patron.

We had many repairs to tackle, including making a new chasuble with the orphrey from an old one, patching holes in the lining of a gold Dalmatic, replacing the orphreys on a Cope, making a burse out of remnants of an old one, stitching lace protectors round the necklines of chasubles, and re-lining a maniple, among others.

Especially delightful was the presence of several children, who participated whole-heartedly in the vestment mending. Seeing young girls repairing a chasuble together, encouraging and helping one another, was a beautiful and touching sight. Their work of prayerful restoration extends beyond the vestments - these young ones are literally building the Church of Christ on earth with their own hands.

As well as daily Mass, we said the Rosary together each morning and sang Compline in the evenings. We also had Benediction on Saturday, when we were thrilled to see our own recently restored Pelican Cope in use.

The Retreats are increasingly popular, both here in the UK and overseas: we have welcomed retreatants from all over Europe, and the US. They attract a diverse crowd, including students (men and women), mothers, young working people and the retired. With the success of this initiative has come increased pressure on places; the waiting list is sometimes as long as the list of participants. Our November Retreat is already fully booked: dates for our February Retreat will be announced shortly.

Launch of the Lenten Vestment Mending Challenge 2026

This weekend we fire the starting gun for our annual Lenten Vestment Mending Challenge at the February Sewing Retreat at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill. 

Maniples repaired during the Challenge of 2023

The Challenge is a beautiful way of augmenting your Lenten devotions. Vestment mending is three times a service to the Church: it is simultaneously an alms to our priests, a Corporal Work of Mercy, and also a contemplative prayer in itself.

Passiontide crucifix veil made by Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem during last year's Challenge

Anyone who would like is welcome to join our Challenge, and if you have no vestment to mend, we will be happy to send you something suitable for your skill level - beginners included. 

Chasuble of Our Lady of Guadalupe repaired during the 2025 Challenge

There is a WhatsApp chat for support and encouragement too. To find out more or to participate, please email Lucy on guildofstclare@lms.org.uk . 

A young participant at work on her 2023 Challenge project

Online Booking for our November Retreat opens

 Booking is open for our next Sewing Retreat, which will take place between 13th-15th November 2026, at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Boars Hill.

Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem, a great friend of the Guild of St Clare, has very kindly agreed to be our chaplain.

The Sewing Retreats always book up very quickly, so if you would like to come, don't delay in registering! More details about our retreats can be found here.

Learn to make an embroidered mitre

The Guild of St Clare is collaborating with the Royal School of Needlework to provide a special one day course, making miniature embroidered mitres. This is a unique opportunity to practise the skill of ecclesiastical embroidery and learn how to make a mitre using traditional hand construction techniques, in the beautiful setting of the RSN's teaching apartments at Hampton Court Palace. The tuition will be provided by RSN tutor Heather Lewis, who has led many courses for the Guild of St Clare in the past.

Heather leading our burse making course at the RSN in March 2020

The date is 14th March 2026, and the course will run between 10am and 4pm. Tea and coffee are provided; you will need to bring a packed lunch, or you can visit one of Hampton Court Palace's cafes. The cost, including the materials, is £196. 

For more information please email Lucy on guildofstclare@lms.org.uk, or book through the registration link on the LMS website.

Heather's embroidery sampler

Launch of the Scottish Chapter

The Guild of St Clare is delighted to be opening the New Year with a new Chapter, our first in Scotland. The Scottish Chapter will meet for the first time on 31st January at Lawside Convent, home of the Marian Franciscans. 

The leader of the new Chapter is Rosa Thurrott, an experienced Guild of St Clare volunteer who is also one of the winners of our Sponsorship Scheme. If you'd like to know more, or join the Chapter, you can email Rosa on gosc.scot@lms.org.uk .

I will be attending the launch meeting myself, and am looking forward enormously to meeting the volunteers and practising the beautiful art of vestment mending in this most romantic setting. Please pray for a successful inauguration!