I look up at the arches and the ceilings, the windows and the walls, but until now I have omitted to look at the kneelers.
The needlework is normally done by women of the parish. Sometimes they use designs of standard religious symbols, often purchased as a kneeler kit; but I think that the most interesting ones are those which show community history, houses, farming scenes, etc.
Often the reverse side has a little note saying who made it - and whether it was done in memory of someone, or for a particular occasion such as the millenium celebrations.
I wonder what is the story behind the gigantic tree with the little parson sitting on the bough? No doubt it is something highly symbolic and obvious.
This particular church is in Bag Enderby, one of the churches which Alfred Lord Tennyson would have frequented - his father was the vicar here.
The tiny hamlet also has the remains of an old tree, which is said to be where John Wesley preached..
I must learn to look down as well as up - and I must start checking the reverse side of the kneelers for those interesting little notes. Those clever needlewomen use cross-stitch, tapestry, long stitch and no doubt many others, to work their designs - they really are stitched with love - they are beautiful, as well as useful.
A 1516 definition of 'hassocks' (church kneelers) is 'especially in church to kneel on'. It is thought that until the end of the 19th century people provided their own kneelers.
I have read that the kneeler of today was 'born' in the 1930's in Winchester Cathedral with Salisbury following soon after. The trend spread and no doubt well-used churches have gone through quite a few since then.
The ones I have shown today are those of two very small, country churches, the one in Bag Enderby and the other in Somersby, birthplace of Alfred Tennyson. They are both set deep in rural Lincolnshire, so naturally nature, farming and country buildings feature heavily. Now that my eyes have been opened to their importance I shall pay them more heed in future.
Hello Elaine:
ReplyDeleteLike you, we love everything about churches and when in England we like nothing better than to explore country churches and their churchyards. We do so agree about the fine workmanship to be found in many hassocks, or kneelers, so often carried out by people of the parish and depicting local scenes or events. We remember particularly the lovely ones to be seen in Brockhampton Church, Herefordshire, which is, unusually, thatched, and designed by Lethaby.
Hello Jane and Lance, They are extremely beautiful and fascinating buildings, for so many reasons. Unfortunately many are now under threat again, because of the high costs of maintaining them; I fear we may be in for another round of church sales, which would be very sad. Now that I have finally opened my eyes to the beauty of the hassocks I am eager to get out there and find some beauties!
DeleteThe Brockhampton Church is particularly beautiful, it is on my list.
Dear Elaine,
ReplyDeletelove your new header, very beginning of the autumn. This is the first time I read about kneelers. They are lovely. I don't know if this is common in Holland too. When I'm abroad I love to visit all kinds of churches, at home I often forget it. Love your post again. groetjes, Gerda
Dear Gerda, Thank you - our house is sitting in a field of yellow ochre at the moment, in a week or two the farmer will come with the plough and it will become a beautiful rich corduroy brown - the earth is beginning to wear her autumnal colours - and she looks very beautiful in them!
DeleteDearest Elaine....this is the first I've read about kneelers. I'm Episcopalian and our church has padded kneelers attached to the pew in front of where you are sitting. Do you know, I found a web site where you can purchase kits for kneelers?
ReplyDeleteLove the new header.....very dramatic perspective!
Dearest Meggie, I know the kneelers you mean, many of our churches have them too - they are practical. I have been blind to the beauty and the stories held within the designs and memories of these individual kneelers, until now...I am eager to get out there and find some stories about them, give them their few minutes of fame. I believe some churches restrict themselves to just a selection of colours, others just go for it, and glow with rich colours!
DeleteA wonderfully unusual post. Thanks! Another form of what might arguably be called "religious art" are candle stands. I've seen lovely ones in England, but not so many elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteHello Revrunner, I'll make a point of watching out for candle stands, I haven't seen many on my travels around the country churches. Possibly this is because many of the ones I visit are not used for services very often. I will keep my eyes peeled in future and you can be sure I'll post photographs if I spot any.
DeleteThe saying goes . . . "you learn something every day" and today, personal church kneelers. This was a first for me. I too, if I should happen upon one, would turn to look at the back to learn just a bit more history. Thank you Elaine . . .
ReplyDeleteHello Lynne, I have been completely blind to these kneelers before, they have simply made kneeling more comfortable. I probably won't see any for a while, not all churches have a collection, but you can be sure that I'll be hoping to read something interesting on the back of any I do spot!
DeleteOh, goodness those are BEAUTIFUL! I just love all the pictures you post - the UK is breathtakingly scenic, the architecture is stunningly beautiful and the history is fascinating. How I long to go there...
ReplyDeleteHello Little Home in the Country, Let's hope that you manage to make that visit one of these days. It is a small island, but I love it! I will be sure to watch out for these little kneelers in future, I have learned a lot from researching for this post. They are stitched with love and I mean to appreciate that in future.
DeleteKneelers I've known were padded and folded down from the pew ahead. Until this minute I've never considered the people in the front pew. These are charming. The lilies of the valley are my favorite. Thanks for spotting it.
ReplyDeleteHello Joanne, As you can imagine, now that I have become aware of them as something other than functional, I am eager to get out there and look at them properly, think about them, appreciate them. I'm particularly keen to see some of the individual designs.
DeleteOur church has the same set up as Meggie's. As a child I remember looking at the kneelers during semons (which went right over my head!)...it kept me from getting bored.
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite from your selection is the snowdrops and robin...it's so "English".
Jane x
Hello Jane, I can just picture you as a little girl! I wonder whether there are others among that collection which represent other seasons in the garden, I'll check that out one of these days. I must also see what I can find out about the woman who made most of them, Maureen Dales.
DeleteI was raised Episcopalian until I married my husband who was Catholic. Only one of the churches I've ever been in had beautiful kneelers as you have described--it dated back to the 1637 in Maryland. I love seeing all the ones you've shown and can imagine the stories that go with them. On my Bucket List to see when I travel! XOXO
ReplyDeleteHello Susan, I imagine the 1637 church in Maryland is a really interesting one - and not only for the kneelers. You can be sure I'll be on the look-out for some interesting hassocks, now that I have finally woken up to them! xx
DeleteThis is my first time learning about kneelers as well. I was raised Lutheran and we never kneeled except at the communion rail--and then only if you were capable.
ReplyDeleteHello Ms Sparrow, I imagine those little hassocks have fed the imagination of many a bored child during a long sermon - as well as being kind to knees during prayers!
DeleteIn our parish church the kneelers where made using the symbols of the saints. They are only placed around the Communion rail. They do show so much talent and devotion. I do love the cushions showing something personal.
ReplyDeleteHello Bonnie, That is what I mean to keep watching for, those designs which commemorate a person or a happening, a small local story and the fact that someone felt strongly enough to put in many hours of work to remember them.
DeleteWe had a neighbour in Sussex who used to make hassocks. She spent all her spare time making them, and our beautiful ancient church was filled with her beautiful work. A real labour of love. I wonder if folk ever wonder who made them?
ReplyDeleteHello Cro, Your neighbour sounds like a very talented needlewoman - I hope her hassocks have survived and are appreciated to this day. These women pour such creativity and love into their work and we just chuck them on the floor and kneel on them. Yes, it is time they were acknowledged for their work!
DeleteLike you I love the way kneelers and wall-hanging can tell the story of a community. This was a lovely post. I also like your new header photo. Jx
ReplyDeleteHello Jan, Unfortunately we have been really busy since I did the post, but I am chomping at the bit to get out and explore the churches again. I couldn't resist posting that header - the colours that day were just amazing. I'm glad you like it too.
DeleteVery interesting and so exciting with the small notes.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Hello Elna, Aren't they wonderful pieces of needlework and expressions of love. I'm delighted you enjoyed reading about them.
DeleteThe hassocks are such a wonderful imprint of the people in the church. I didn't experience people kneeling in church until I taught at a Catholic high school and Friday mass was mandatory. No hassocks there, parishioners had a pull-down, padded shelf to kneel on.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Hello Janet, Lots of our churches here have those pull-down shelves, they are practical, but not beautiful. I mean to go out and find some beautiful little hassocks which really tell a story, at the moment life is busy, but one of these fine days I shall go out hassock-hunting!
DeleteWhat delightful kneelers you have shown. I look up always but from now on will try to look down too then attempt not to fall in the aisle. I will also turn hassocks over in future.
ReplyDeleteHello Cuby Poet, They really are delightful and I wish I had paid more attention to them throughout my life. Some many expressions of love, devotion and creativity. Small rainbows within a dimly lit church.
DeleteI used to do petit point and I know how much work goes into those, each one is lovely in it's own right.
ReplyDeleteHello Linda, It is quite awe-inspiring to think of how many hours of work are put into each one. The love and creativity, and the thoughts expressed through the designs.
DeleteYour new header is stunning Elaine. I especially love the hassock with the snowdrops and robin.
ReplyDeleteHello Scarlet, I'm glad you like the header. I was out walking Toby and had my camera to hand when it suddenly struck me how rich the colour of the stubble is this year. Unfortunately I think the farmer will be ploughing it in today!
DeleteSuch lovely workmanship in those kneelers, it seems a shame to put them on the floor and kneel on them. My mum used to do tapestry and cross stitch work, she gave me a lovely framed tapestry of her hometown in Germany one year, unfortunately it was about six feet long and I had nowhere to put it. My niece has it now.
ReplyDeleteHello River, Oh my word, that must have been a work of love. I can't even begin to think how many hours would have been poured into a six foot long tapestry! Lucky niece! The little kneelers are both practical and beautiful, but I agree, if I had worked long and hard on something I'm not sure that I would want it to be thrown on the floor and knelt on!
DeleteWe have been explorers of English country churches for many years but I do not recall ever having seen such pretty tapestry kneelers before.
ReplyDeleteHello LindyLouMac, Quite a lot of churches these days have the pull-down kneelers, but there are still lots of smaller churches which have the little hassocks. Sometimes they sit on the pew, or sometimes you will find them hanging under the pews. They are worth watching out for.
DeleteBeautiful. I love needlecraft and like you really am intrigued by kneelers and such in churches... a lovely post. x
ReplyDeleteHello A Little Bit of Heaven on a Plate, I can't wait to get out exploring some more country churches - and I'll be sure to watch out for the kneelers. The hours of work which have gone into them, the stories they tell...
DeleteThese are just wonderful! It inspires me!
ReplyDeleteHello Marie, Aren't they just the most delightful and practical little things. I mean to find more!
Delete