Threads of Faith : Sacred Stitches – Birmingham Cathedral – Stitched from Stories
Installed in Birmingham Cathedral for Christmas 2025, the New Nativity weaves together the story of Jesus’ birth, the heritage of Birmingham, the stories of the cathedral community and the needs of the world today. It gives Christmas a fresh visual focus, helping visitors and worshippers appreciate the heart of Christmas anew.
The set was made in 2025 by artist Melanie Tomlinson. The cathedral sought an artwork that was original, beautiful and creative, and that reflected Birmingham and the West Midlands traditions of industry, craft and manufacture. In a hyper-diverse city, it also wanted every visitor to be able to see themselves in it.
Each figure is uniquely crafted from textiles and reclaimed materials, blending textures and colours [add details of the techniques used, such as stitching, weaving, felting or appliqué, and the number of figures]. Most of the materials came from charity shops in Birmingham, with some donated by local supporters. This combination of reused, natural and community-contributed materials underlines the collaborative spirit of the project and the connection between people, place and environment.
The Nativity also grew out of workshops with members of the cathedral community, children and families, refugees and people experiencing homelessness.
Participants explored the Nativity story and made pieces that Melanie brought into the figures, while stories were shared. The figures invite us to see the Christmas story through themes of migration, resilience, climate and shared humanity, and to remember that the Bible’s account includes poverty, a child born in a stable and a family forced to flee as refugees.
The New Nativity shows how textiles carry memories and connect people through shared stories. Each figure stands for collective creativity and community participation, and for the relationship between faith, creativity and human experience.
More here.
The cathedral is grateful to The Birmingham Municipal Charity and The Westhill Endowment for their support of the artwork. More details here.
See all of wonderful Threads of Faith entries here.
