Barbara offers to share embroidery skills

A parishioner from St John’s Cathedral in Norwich is appealing for people with the skills and willingness to help repair vestments across the Diocese of East Anglia.

Barbara Scrutton has been repairing vestments for an amazing almost 70 years – from the age of 15 to her present 84.

She said: “Four years ago, when approaching my 80th birthday, I retired from work in the Cathedral to look after my disabled husband; he sadly died last year.

“I had been sacristan for over 12 years and during that time, and before, made repairs to vestments. I also created a number of new vestment sets with some ladies who, with me, formed St John’s Embroiderers.

“We also extended this work to other include churches in the area: Lowestoft, Gt Yarmouth, Poringland, Dereham, Sheringham and Walsingham.

“We even repaired vestments from Church of England parishes in Hethersett and Great Melton.

“These ladies have mostly moved on and the skills needed are not widely taught these days.

“I have been asked to take back the repair of vestments. This is not a problem whilst I am able, but I am thinking of the future.

“Vestments will always need repair so I would like to form a group of people who will be available and have the skills to do the work when needed – or who are happy to learn them.”

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Barbara at barbara.scrutton1@virginmedia.com

Pictured above is part of an embroidered Centenary History of St John’s and a dalmatic created for Lowestoft, both by Barbara Scrutton.

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