The St. James Kneeler Projects

1997 : The High Altar Rail Kneelers
The main altar rail kneelers were made in 1997.
The project was led by Jeannette Finch, and a group of ladies in Nayland stitched them in wool.
They were: Elisabeth Esler, Pam Baker, Jeannette Finch, Sue Gowen, Barbara Bungey,
Margaret Fogg, Nancy Sawyer, Margaret Thompson and Elizabeth Wakefield. Each kneeler
has the name of the person who made it on its side edge.
Two of the altar rail kneelers are shown below.
2006 : Kneelers for the Central Aisle Pews
Seven years later it was suggested, by Pip Neave to Jeannette Finch, that the main aisle of the
church should have some new kneelers. Led by Jeannette Finch, a small committee was formed
in November 2005 to carry this idea forward and the idea of hand-made tapestry wool kneelers was
submitted to the PCC for approval. The Friends of St James kindly agreed to sponsor this project.
The committee consisted: John Burnett, Jeannette Finch, Anna Mann, Pip Neave and Maggie
Stobo. To start the group, ‘the stitchers’ used to meet in each others houses to choose their
designs and to have an introduction to ‘the rules’. Designs were selected, adapted, and printed
on the canvases, ready for stitching. All these kneelers were stitched by people who lived locally.
The original plan was to complete the project in 10 years. After 5 years, all 94 kneelers were
completed!!
The committee wishes to thank all those who contributed in any way towards the project, by
creating the designs and charts, providing needlework frames, doing the stitching and assembling
the kneelers.
The committee particularly appreciated the support and collaboration of their suppliers: Jaycraft
of Bury St Edmunds for the canvas, Cutfoam Ltd London for supplying and cutting the foam pads,
Appleton Bros & Golden Thimble (Maggie Stobo) for supplying the wool, Emma Bennion for printing
the canvases, Wendy Prescott for stretching the canvases and assembling the kneelers.
All ninety-four kneelers have been photographed and included in this album.
2012 : St Francis Chapel Altar Rail Kneelers
The most recent project was the St Francis Chapel Altar Rail Kneelers. It was led by Viv Turnbull.
The Woodbridge based artist Michael Coulter very kindly designed the 4 long pictures, especially
for Nayland church. He did the same for Pettistree church five years previously and generously
donated both sets.
Jeannette Finch obtained permission to go ahead and she, Sandra Prior and Viv Turnbull worked
them in tent stitch with Paterna wools. It was decided to stuff the kneelers with tightly packed layers
of felt as they do for York Minster.
Kneelers for the Central Aisle Pews
Pip Neave : Swan : Design by Pip Neave
Joan Moore : Frog & Dragon-Fly : Design by Joan Moore
Jeannette Finch : Shell of St James : Design by Jeannette Finch
Pip Neave : Candles & Crucifix : Design by Pip Neave
Mary Fairhead : Artists Palette – Art Group : Design by Sheila Sessions
Sally Arnold : Pheasant : Design by Emma Bennian
Elizabeth Wakefield : Cottage in Bear Street : Design by E. Wakefield
Elisabeth Esler : Kingfisher : Design by Emma Bennian
Denise Drury : Tawny Owl : Design by John Burnett
Mary Fairhead : Suffolk Punches : Design by Emma Bennian
Hazel Gardiner : Church Bells : Design by Elizabeth Kindell
Maggie Stobo : Pascal Lamb : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : St Edmundsbury Dioesan Crest : Design by Maggie St0bo
Madeline Edwards : Cow : Design by Emma Bennian
Angela Layton : Woodpecker : Design by John Burnett
Elizabeth Wakefield : Nayland Choir : Design by Elizabeth Wakefield
Angela Layton : Timber House : Design by Pat Draycott
Sally Arnold : Sacred Heart Church : Design by Maggie Stobo
Richard Elston : Mallard Ducks : Design by John Burnett
Maggie Stobo : Green Man : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo
: Tudor Rose : Design by Maggie Stobo
Ann Channon : Rosehips : Design by John Burnett
Denise Drury : Autumn : Design by Church
Sue Gowen : Canada Goose : Design by John Burnett
Sally Arnold : Sun Moon Fire : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : Suffolk Angel : Design by Maggie Stobo
Jeannette Finch : St James Church : Design by John Burnett
Caroline Nevill : Canada Goose : Design by John Burnett
Maggie Stobo : Basket of Vegetables : Design by Maggie Stobo
Pam Baker : Women’s Institute Logo : Design by W.I. Federation
Elisabeth Esler : View of Nayland Court Street : Design by Elisabeth Esler
Samang Finch : St James Church : Design by John Burnett
Sue Bunting : Mallard Ducks : Design by John Burnett
Hazel Gardiner : Poppies & Corn : Design by Hazel Gardiner
Sally Arnold : St Edmund : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : Chalice & Host : Design by Maggie Stobo
Madeline Edwards : Daffodils : Design by Church
Richard Elston : Rose Cottage : Design by Richard Elston
Joan Moore : Rennie Mackintosh Rose, Community Council : Design by J Moore
Caroline Nevill : We Will Remember Them : Design by Church
Maggie Stobo : Church Mouse : Design by Maggie Stobo
Pip Neave : Three Medieval People : Design by another church
Jan Harvard-Davies : Dove of Peace : Design by Church
Maggie Stobo : Crown Lillies & Blood – Crucifixion : Design by Maggie Stobo
Jane Simmons: Butchers, in memory of Lydia Bridges : From a photograph
Mary Hussey : Sheep : Design by Church
Jeannette Finch : Squirrel : Design by Church
Maggie Stobo : Dove of Peace : Design Maggie Stobo
Caroline Nevill : Fish : Design by Church
Olive Martin : Mothers Union Logo : Design by Mothers Union
Maggie Stobo : Angel : Design by Maggie Stobo
Angela Layton : Spring : Design by Church
Maggie Stobo : St Peter : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : St Edmund : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : Judas : Design by Maggie Stobo
Maggie Stobo : Loaves & Fishes : Design by Maggie Stobo
Sandra Gibbons : Rabbit : Design by Sheila Sessions
Maggie Stobo : Passion Flower : Design by Maggie Stobo
Angela Layton : Musical Notes : Design by Angela Layton
Maggie Stobo : St Edmunds with Palms : Design by Maggie Stobo
Pip Neave : Old Fashioned Pheasant : Design by Pip Neave
Jeannette Finch : Robin & Snowdrops : Design from Christmas Card
Maggie Stobo : Pascal Lamb : Design by Maggie Stobo
Hazel Gardiner : Long Tailed Tit : Design by Hazel Gardiner
Angela Layton : Anchor Bridge : Design from Photograph
Maggie Stobo : Many Crosses : Design by Maggie Stobo
Caroline Nevill : Diamonds & Crosses Pattern : Design from Photograph
Sue Gowen : Swans on River : Design from Photograph
Sandra Gibbons : Modern Angels “He is Lord” : Design by another church
Vivien Turnbull : Bonnie : Design by Sheila Sessions
Desterre Stittaford : Two Sheep : Design from Photograph
Jeannette Finch : Sing to the Lord : Design by another church
Olive Martin : PAX (Peace) : Design by Olive Martin
Elizabeth Wakefield : PX which means CHI-RHO : Design by E Wakefield
Mary Hussey : Swift : Design from Photograph
Elizabeth Wakefield : Boxing Hares : Design from Book
Jeannette Finch : Deer : Design from Book
Jane Simmons : Lydia Bridgees’ Dog : Design from Photograph
Jeannette Finch : Cambridge House : Jeannette Finch
Jenny Hoskins : Fen Street : Design by Jenny Hoskins
Anna Mann : Anemones : Design from a picture
Shirley Williams : Corn & Poppies : Design from Photograph
Angela Layton : Old Rectory : Design from Photograph
Sandra Prior : Pascal Lamb : Design from Photograph
Angela Layton : Cross : Design by Angela Layton
Mary Fairhead : Fish : Design from Photograph
Richard Elston & Sandra Prior : Union Jack : Design by Richard Elston
Mona Gaunt : Dove of Peace : Design by Church
Mary Hussey : Rabbit : Design from Photograph
Jeannette Finch : Charles Gumm : Design by Jeannette Finch
Sandra Prior : Mother & Children : Design from Photograph
Angela Layton : Religious Symbol : Design from a book
Sandra Prior : Angel & Trumpet : Design from Pip Neave
Olive & Bill Martin : Chalice & Hope : Design from photograph