Needlepoint Projects
A way to honor or remember a loved one
In 2015 St. Stephen’s Church underwent a renovation as part of the celebration of our centennial. The project included a beautifully restored worship space and architectural features, enhancements to basic systems, improved accessibility, and special attention to the capital needs of our outreach partners.
The restoration of the church included replacement of the pews in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit with more flexible seating in the form of traditional cathedral chairs featuring cloth-covered kneeling cushions. During the renovation, parishioner John Phillips shared a vision for the formation of a needlepoint guild to stitch covers for the kneelers using symbols and icons reflecting the images already found in the chapel. By the time the church building re-opened for worship in December 2015, the guild had been formed, and plans were underway for the design and stitching of the canvases.
Nancy Lukoskie, who has done work for the Washington National Cathedral and Bruton Parish Church, designed an painted the canvases, and volunteer stitchers began their work. This project, led by Mary Anne Burke, was completed quickly, and the guild turned its attention to the next phase: kneelers for the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd kneelers were designed and the canvasses painted by parishioner Jessica Tongel, with coordination provided by Robyn Kay, Sally Lester, and Helen Sarrett. Each has a red background (completed canvas shown with crossed keys) and a shield with a different symbol, such as this scallop shell, many inspired by motifs found in our stained glass windows.
Nave Project: Phase 1
The next phase involves kneelers for the nave (the main part of the church), and designs will feature verses of scripture with motifs appropriate to each verse.
These exquisite canvasses have been designed, hand lettered, and painted by Anne Pennypacker.
The donation for these larger kneelers (58 inches long) is $500. You can order and pay online from this page, or download a PDF of the order form and mail the form with your check to the parish office.
We are deeply grateful for those who made gifts to bring the Holy Spirit and Good Shepherd projects to completion, as well as to those who stitched the beautiful cushions. We now invite your gifts to make the next phase possible. It commences during a challenging time in our parish, the community, and the world, when we are physically apart.
We look forward to the time when we can return to this beloved sacred space which includes the handiwork of so many stitchers and other artisans.
The photos on the left show detail from two canvases already stitched by the artist. The photos below show painted canvases (one featuring a verse from Genesis, one from Matthew) ready to be stitched. Additional biblical verses and motifs are available. (Please note that some designs shown may already have been reserved by others. These are simply to give you a sense of what is available.)
Contact
Marie Carter (general information)
Anne Pennypacker (information about availability of specific designs/Bible verses)