Woven for worship, made for the next hundred years
Threads of Faith : Sacred Stitches – Blackburn Cathedral – Centenary Vestments
To mark its centenary, Blackburn Cathedral commissioned acclaimed British textile artist Margo Selby to create a new collection of twelve liturgical vestments. The commission brought contemporary textile design into conversation with the Cathedral’s heritage, producing cloth intended not just for display but for active use in worship.
Every element of the garments was handwoven and handmade. Margo Selby and her team studied historic examples and developed skills in heritage techniques, so that the finished vestments would reflect the quality and dignity of earlier ecclesiastical textiles while keeping the studio’s distinctive approach to colour, rhythm and pattern.
Vestments are present at baptisms, weddings, ordinations, funerals, festivals and weekday Eucharists, at moments of celebration, sorrow and faithful service. Here, cloth and thread became a visible expression of continuity, linking the Cathedral’s first century with the generations who will worship there in the future.
The project was made possible through the generosity of the Friends of Blackburn Cathedral and the skill of Margo Selby Studio. At the unveiling, twelve garments were carried into the Nave and assembled at the Sanctuary, filling the Cathedral with liturgical colour before being blessed for use in worship.
The structure of the cloth offers a fitting metaphor for the Cathedral community. The warp, strong and constant, holds the tension of the whole, while the weft passes through it row by row to build something beautiful. Each thread has its place, just as each generation contributes to the continuing life of the Cathedral.
The Centenary Vestments show that cathedral textiles are a living tradition. Rooted in historic craftsmanship, shaped by contemporary design and made to be worn, they carry the Cathedral’s heritage into its second century and will serve the worshipping community for generations to come.
Featured textile: handwoven fabric by Margo Selby Studio.
See all of wonderful Threads of Faith entries here.
