Tyneside in thread and print. The Newcastle Copes.
The copes worn on special occasions by the Dean and Residentiary Canons of Newcastle Cathedral bring together Christian tradition and the distinctive character of the North East. They were created in 2014 by Yorkshire artists Linda Schwab and Sally Greaves-Lord and their shield-shaped hoods carry screen-printed designs.
The imagery connects worship with the region’s landscape and history.
Reeds, feathers and sunlight reflected on water evoke the natural world, while girders, rivets and sweeping bridge forms celebrate Tyneside’s industrial and engineering heritage.
Individual hoods honour saints including Cuthbert, Osmund, Benedict Biscop and Finan, linking the cathedral’s worship with earlier generations of Christian faith.
The Dean’s cope is dedicated to St Nicholas, the cathedral’s patron saint.
Three golden circles represent his gift of gold to three impoverished sisters, recalling his legendary generosity. A rowing ship reflects his role as patron saint of sailors, while the silhouette of the cathedral’s Lantern Tower connects that protection to Newcastle. Historically, the tower helped guide vessels along the River Tyne.
The copes show that cathedral textiles can carry the character of a place as well as the worship within it. They link saints and shipbuilders, river and city, and the artists who translated the region’s story into cloth that is still worn today.
See all of wonderful Threads of Faith entries here.
