01/02/2022
The RSN displayed work at Ely Cathedral in 2015 in an exhibition known as Worship & Glory and this week we have returned for Worship and Glory II. I was so pleased to help set up some amazing pieces of work earlier this week after last year’s postponement due to the pandemic. It is hard to believe it is seven years since the original event. The 12 Litany of Loreto works, a selection of beautiful christening robes from the RSN Collection, look truly stunning, and are side by side for the first time since 2013. Little is known of their history or origin but they are outstanding examples of gold thread work and unlike many other exhibitions, visitors can get up close to see the amazing workmanship.
We also have a number of pieces on show for the first time. Some were found in an attic, such as the Purple Angels and the Cherubs (shown below). We have no idea who made them and while that fact would mean that some collections would not accept them, at the RSN we willingly accept and celebrate items on the merit of their stitching.
Although we are celebrating our 150th anniversary this year, the RSN is not just about historic embroidery. We want to preserve the knowledge of the past (our RSN Stitch Bank aims to digitally conserve and preserve every stitch in the world to become the world’s biggest collection of stitches) but we know that inspiring people to use traditional techniques in more contemporary ways will be vital in safeguarding their future. We work with our degree students to do just this and will also be displaying some stunning contemporary pieces of work which demonstrate the development of stitch through the work of RSN Degree graduates from 2019, 2020 and 2021.
We want to ensure the future of hand embroidery through education, practice and promotion so at Worship and Glory II we are also teaching two of the techniques on show in the exhibits – goldwork and whitework. The classes are for stitchers of varying experience and expertise and taught by expert RSN tutors.
The exhibition runs until March 13, 2022 and I hope you are able to visit.
Dr Susan Kay-Williams
Chief Executive, RSN
