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!

The Ipswich Charter Hangings

 Ancilla writes: In the year 1200, Ipswich was granted the Royal Charter by King John (of Robin Hood fame). Eight hundred years later, in AD 2000, Isabel Clover designed eight hangings to commemorate this important part of history for Ipswich Town.

The hangings had many sponsors: Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich Port Authority, and Ipswich Decorative and Fine Arts Society, among others. The hangings had 40 City and Guild students and former students working on them over 3 years, and they are now exhibited at St Peters-by-the-Waterfront (which has free admission).

Side-by-side it is easy to see the theme running through all eight panels, the River Orwell, which has been wonderfully created with silk velvet. Each panel represents a century, taking a snapshot of what was happening and what Ipswich Town looked like.

It really is very well done, with a variety of stitches and mediums used to create the story of time and place. The main technique used is Applique, which will be familiar to many and is the first course of the Diploma offered at the RSN. There is also quite a bit of Goldwork, scattered throughout the panels.

They are a great inspiration as to what can be achieved with hangings or banners. It shows that Ecclesiastical Banners, Guild Banners, Society Banners, etc., have their place in our communities still, whether large or small. The Guild of St Clare has been instrumental in making and preserving such banners; may God bless the work!