When Beryl attended our recent embroidery workshop she shared the wonderful story of how she and her daughter embroidered on the ‘True Health’ panel and how, years later, a visit to the Ely Cathedral Roadshow inspired her meeting to create their very own panels…
About the ‘True Health’ panel
Until 1870 Quakers and other nonconformists were barred from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. In the eighteenth century, John Fothergill, who studied medicine at Edinburgh, placed great emphasis on a good diet and healthy exercise. Joseph Lister pioneered work on antiseptic surgery and William Tuke worked on new approaches to mental illness.
Making the panel
“The panel was embroidered by Friends in Cambridgeshire Meetings, including my own – Peterborough. I had taken a small part in this, both because I was a doctor and especially as it seemed to impart such wisdom. It was also a chance for the children of our Meeting to take part.
It was hard for small hands to reach across the stretched fabric on the frame. I rather suspect that some of our messy efforts were later unpicked and redone by some of the very experienced embroiderers in the group!
Shown here is a photo of my daughter, then aged 8, putting in some stitches into our little corner of the True Health Panel – the one showing the pharmacy bottles and jars.”
A Moment of Inspiration…
“In 2012, members of our meeting in Peterborough travelled to the Ely Cathedral Roadshow to view the Tapestry. They were so inspired that they decided we should try to create our own panel.
Our Meeting House has a large and lovely garden, grass and apple trees, but it had recently been revamped to show Quaker principles: Peace, Equality and Sustainability and we had also joined the Quiet Garden Movement. The garden is always open to anyone and everyone. Our panel therefore tried to reflect all these aspects and include the swathes of snowdrops, primroses and snakes head fritillaries in the spring and the labyrinth in the grass. Two of us set up the vertical frame and we sat side by side companionably embroidering on Tuesday mornings. Quakers and other friends popped in for coffee and chat and we were treated to Bach and Chopin on the piano as a Friend practised!
Once it was finished and framed, we decided we had enjoyed it so much we would do another one, this time using Isaac Penington’s lovely quotation “Our life is love …” That meant lots of lettering – Quaker stitch of course! The children of Meeting, now a little more grown up, added and embroidered their pictures of recent adventures at Rookhow. The two panels now hang in the entrance hall of our Meeting House and hopefully will continue to inspire us and our visitors in the future!”
‘True Health’ along with the other 76 panels is available to order as a postcard and as a high quality photographic print, perfect to frame and hang at home or in your Meeting House.
Support the Quaker Tapestry
Buy lovely things from us – Our museum shop in Kendal and our online shop are full of fantastic gifts
Make a donation to our work – Did you know that we’re a registered charity as well as a visitor attraction?
Plan a visit to the Quaker Tapestry Museum – Encourage others to visit too, you can now book your tickets online
Book a short break – Stay in our charming onsite Courtyard Flat via Airbnb
Become a Quaker Tapestry Member – Annual or Life Memberships are available, as well as gifting a Membership
