Thy wool be done: Bible yarns on show at Stafford Church
Think your knowledge of the Bible is a bit woolly? A new exhibition will serve as a helpful reminder as it brings its best known stories to life as never before.
Adam and Eve (without a stitch on), the Lion's Den and the Last Supper are all among the biblical yarns that have been recreated with knitted characters. And they are all on display at a Stafford church.
Parishioners from Stafford Baptist Church wanted to celebrate 120 years in the same building and invited the creators of the 33-scene exhibition to showcase their work in the town. The knitted pieces originate from St George's United Reformed Church in Hartlepool and have been shown across the country.
The church's Deacon Rhian Jones said: "I loved the knitted Bible exhibition. It is the sort of thing I'd never seen before.
"I can't knit to save my life, so I don't know how they've got the patience to have put it all together. The detail in every item is unbelievable. We had children down to see it and they absolutely loved it – they see something different each time they look.
"Someone's done 100 sheep, each of them individually hand-knitted.
"They've done the Last Supper, with knitted wine glasses and plates. Who has the patience for that? It's a great, different way of seeing the stories, especially for children. Then there's an explanation of each story to read along with it."
The exhibition, which finished on Monday, marked the beginning of the celebration of 120 years of Stafford Baptist Church occupying the same building in Bailey Street.
A number of events will be held over the coming few months, including an exhibition of old photographs.
The church is also donating £120 each month to a variety of local charities, including Katharine House Hospice. Mrs Jones said: "It's great for the church to have been in the same building for 120 years.
"My husband went to this church when he was a boy and my children have grown up at this church. It's an extension of our family and we love it. We've modernised it a bit, but the bones are still there. You can see the old part of it – the architecture and the stained glass windows – which is absolutely amazing."
