Clothed in Glory – Ely Cathedral

Exquisite embroidery from the archives of the Community of the Sisters of the Church has gone on public display for the very first time in Ely Cathedral’s Lady Chapel.

Clothed in Glory – embroidery by the Community of the Sisters of the Church on show for the first time at Ely Cathedral

Clothed in Glory showcases a wide variety of embroidery techniques and styles of ecclesiastical vestments produced by the community of nuns and their helpers over a 90 year period and has never been on display before.

The pieces that make up this exhibition were all produced by the Community of the Sisters of the Church who, alongside others, worked from a dedicated Embroidery Room which was founded in 1878, for the sole purpose of repairing and making vestments and other liturgical pieces.

Every exhibit on display has been created with an imaginative use of textiles from silk damasks to dress fabric within a timeline of 1870’s to the 1960s. Each one is unique in design and reflects a number of highly skilled fine needlework techniques from hand sewn and hand embroidered to more contemporary work that has been machine stitched throughout.

Sister Marguerite Mae Eamon, CSC, Community Archivist said

“This exhibition of vestments, burses, veils, stoles and other embroidered pieces from the archives of the Community of the Sisters of the Church highlights over 90 years of work done by the Sisters and their helpers. 

“The Sisters ran a School of Embroidery for many years showing examples in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of ornate decoration – providing the best of the best for use at the altar. The designs and style of couching are unique to the Community. It is the first time that this embroidery has been brought together and exhibited in this way “.

Joss Palmer, Ely Cathedral’s Event Manager, who curated the exhibition at Ely, said:

“We are honoured to be chosen to be the first to exhibit the ‘Clothed in Glory’ collection and the Lady Chapel at is a fabulous venue to showcase these incredible pieces of needlework.” 

The Community of the Sisters of the Church were founded in 1870 by Mother Emily who believed her Community to be called to a “life of active charity and missionary enterprise”, having seen the degradation and poverty suffered by so many in Victorian England, children in particular. From this, the Community run embroidery room was created as a non-profit making organisation. Within thirty years of the Community’s foundation, its work had become a global enterprise. Sisters were working in Canada, India and Burma, Australia, New York, South Africa (in the context of the Boer War), and New Zealand.

Clothed in Glory is open daily in the Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral until 16 March.

Entry to the exhibition is included with your Cathedral visitor ticket. (Please check the website for full details and notifications of any restricted access or closure).