How did the Banners start?
In Autumn 1994 Brenda Boardman (a member of Christ Church) was invited by the redevelopment liaison group to consider forming a team to make new banners and wall hangings for our new Church. She invited several friends from Church, together with Liz Lacey representing the liaison group, to her home for a time of prayer and discussion with the priority being - The Wall
It would obviously be difficult to make one large banner, so it was finally decided to have the five graded banners you see now. From the start we were inspired by the Hymn ‘Thine Be the Glory, Risen Conquering Son’ and after much prayer and discussion we put the cross in the centre, with Christ’s glorious resurrection radiating from the cross. The poppies were for ‘remembrance’. The very last time we worshipped in the ‘old’ church was Remembrance Sunday and we also wanted to remember all the people that had gone before and built up the church. We showed the wheat as green and growing as a sign of new growth within the church.
With members of our banner group also being involved in the then women’s evening group, we asked and got their generous support in both praying for and financing this project. Also the fellowship groups to which we belonged took a keen and prayerful interest.
All in all, well over 250 hours were spent designing, stitching and finishing. A great team effort.
So what do you see in the wall hangings? Uppermost in our thoughts we worked to express ‘A Celebration of God’s Glory’, and we have embroidered on the back a verse from Psalm 57. ‘Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.’
What do you see in the hangings?
Folk have been helped in many ways and found within the hangings
- The Road to the cross
- The Glory of the empty tomb
- A window in God's wonderful world.
- God's creation from a tiny seed to full bloom
and during the week, the stewards find the hangings useful to witness to many visitors who visit Christ Church that the God we worship is the God of creation and the God of salvation.
