St George the Martyr Shirley On Your Knees and On Your Seat The

St George the Martyr
Shirley
On Your Knees and On Your Seat
The Story of the Church Kneelers
March 2011
£2
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A&S
LC1
N1
MU1-7
MU1-7
N2
N4
N5
N6
N7
N8
N9
N10
N11
N12
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Kneelers and Kneeling
The kirk elder was on holiday in North Berwick. He was a man of few words,
and all of the few were delivered with mature deliberation. (Even the conventional “good day” addressed to him got no response until he had reflected on
whether it was good and whether he needed to comment.) He was not best
pleased with the ecumenical service recently held in St Giles Cathedral. The
cause of his displeasure was that the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian visitors had been kneeling. His tradition was one of sitting or standing for worship, and he connected kneeling with pre-Reformation practices of kneeling in
front of objects of the kind that had been removed from St Giles at the Reformation. The politics of kneeling were reinforced while I was writing this by the
report from the USA that the Secretary of the Treasury knelt to the Speaker of
the House of Representatives during discussions on bailing out Wall Street/
Main Street, and the latter commented “I didn’t know you were a Catholic!”.
St George’s has always been in the Anglican tradition of “sit or kneel as you
feel most comfortable “ - the comfort being both physical and spiritual. For the
very young, kneeling means not being able to see over the back of the pew in
front. For those of more advanced years, getting down and getting up both
present challenges. With an order of service that promotes standing for the
very special parts of the morning service (where kneeling used to be encouraged), many people who can kneel only kneel to receive Communion. Others
feel that there is still a place in the service for the humble (and relatively uncomfortable) position: on their knees. There just isn’t room between the pews
to follow the Muslim tradition of kneeling and bowing low (which seems to be
the way the writer of the Book of Revelation saw things being done in heaven).
Those who kneel mostly use a kneeler - which is, after all, why they are there.
A few prefer the floor, as being more stable, less comfortable, and more traditional. Kneelers are a relatively recent innovation, especially the beautifully
decorated variety that many churches now treasure. If you google for church
kneelers, you will be able to enjoy some of the huge variety of kneeler designs
from churches around the country...and also see how to make your own if you
feel inspired. See in particular parishkneelers.co.uk and the County entries
under this heading. (We plan to add the St George’s kneelers to the gallery.)
Googling, or asking those who have made kneelers, will supply you with full
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10143 (N1)
010147 (N2)
0109 (N6)
G3943 (N9)
10106 (N12)
technical details. For the purposes of these notes, it is enough to say that in
general tent stitch is used for canvas with 13 stitches to the inch, and cross
stitch for canvas with 10 stitches to the inch. We have the full statistics for one
of the most recently made St George’s kneelers (featured on the back cover):
11,500 stitches at 56 stitches to the square inch, requiring well over 900 yards
of yarn: taking four months to complete at about one hour per square inch. As
with marriage, so with kneelers: not an enterprise to be lightly undertaken.
The St George’s Kneelers
Many of the current St George’s kneelers date from a 1977 Jubilee project
initiated by Mrs Mary Jones [Hambling]. The ages of the first group of designers and makers (most, though not all, of whom were ladies) ranged from 12 to
70+. Five of the older tulip pattern leatherette-backed kneelers remain. The
kneelers in the main church have a wide variety of patterns. The Lady Chapel
kneelers are all the same—with the exception of the two long kneelers in front
of the Lady Chapel altar rail, recently given by the Mothers Union, and one
slightly larger version of the blue cross design by the bishop’s seat. The wedding kneeler, for the bride and groom to kneel on during their blessing, is normally visible in the main church only during weddings. (Wedding: See cover an intricate flowing design of two doves and a cross: Donated and made by
Sheila Jones, dedicated to Charles Jones.) The P Taylor kneeler is missing.
The Altar Kneelers
A key message at what in most Anglican churches is the central family service
on Sunday is the invitation to everybody to come forward to the altar rail, to
receive Communion or to receive a blessing. There are too many people in
church to get them all gathered (most kneeling) around the altar rail; but in
due course almost everybody gets there - apart from those who are too immobile and who receive the sacrament in their pews. So the altar kneelers are
particularly important, being the only ones that everybody uses, and uses
every Sunday. There are seven of them, each with the same pattern of multiple crosses: a helpful reminder that the Last Supper which is the precedent for
the Communion Service took place on the eve of Good Friday. These seven
kneelers were made for St George’s 50th anniversary in 1987 - by some ladies
very prominent in the life of St George’s:
(A1) Donated by the Mothers Union, Dedicated to St George’s Mothers Union,
Made by Mrs Lucy Hobbs. (A2) Donated and made by Mrs Mary Hambling,
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Dedicated to St George’s on its 50th Anniversary. (A3) Donated by the M U,
Dedicated to St George’s on its 50th Anniversary, Made by Mrs Eva Keyes.
(A4) Donated by M U, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mrs Pickles Brown.
(A5) Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mrs Olive Booker. (A6) Donated
by Mrs Betty Ireland, Dedicated to Mr and Mrs Mead (her parents), Made by
Mrs Sheila Jones. (A7) Donated by Mrs Betty Ireland, Dedicated to Mr and
Mrs Mead, Made by Mrs Betty Jones.
Around the Sanctuary
The altar kneelers are, of necessity, thinner than those in the pews; and they
are matched with the seat cushions on the seats around the sanctuary, sometimes placed in the sanctuary, and the prayer desk seats. For the seats, there
are two designs, one exactly the same as the altar kneelers, and the other also
involving multiple crosses but with a rather different pattern and red colouring.
Here again, there are some well-known St George’s names:
Seats to left of altar: (S1) Donated and made by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to Mr E P Hambling. (S2) (Red variant) Donated Mr and Mrs Keyes,
Dedicated Mrs Domoney, Made Mrs Keyes.
Stall to left of altar: (S3) Donated by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to St
George’s, Made by Mr E P Hambling (one of the few male makers and a gardener at St George’s). (S4) Kneeler for prayer desk chair in front of stall: Donated and Made by Mrs Hazel Grant (Styles). Dedicated to Mr Bill Grant.
This kneeler has the initials BL and the dates 1985-1993. It commemorates
Rev Brian Lee, our parish priest between those years.
Stall to right of altar: (S5) Donated and made by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to St George’s. (S6) Made by Mr Bill Grant. Commemorating the Induction of Rev David Frost. Carries the initials DF and the date 14/iv/94.
Seats to right of altar (dedicated to server Tony Moore): (S7) Donated and
made by Mrs Olive Booker, Dedicated to St George’s. (S8) Donated by Mrs
Mary Hambling, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mrs Olive Johnson.
All these Altar and Sanctuary kneelers and cushions are illustrated by the first
picture on the centre pages (A&S).
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The Lady Chapel
(LC1) The 24 blue cross kneelers in use in the Lady Chapel were made by a
number of ladies, led by Mrs Brenda Lloyd, and including Mrs Hazel Grant,
Miss Warner, Mrs E Kitteringham, Mrs M Jones, Mrs Jean Cook and Mrs Lucy
Hobbs. There are 11 spare kneelers with the same pattern, stored at the side
against the possibility of expansion, or destruction, or worshippers of such proportions that one kneeler is not enough. The cross motif dominates the furnishings of St George’s, to the extent that crosses can be counted in thousands. No bad thing for a worldwide faith that emphasises a God who shares
our sufferings. The slightly larger kneeler at the back of the Lady Chapel carries a pale blue cross. It was Donated and made by Mrs Mary Hambling and
is Dedicated to St George’s. Its counterpart is in the stall to the right of the altar in the main church. Both were originally made for the church stalls.
(LC2 & 3) The two long kneelers in front of the Lady Chapel altar are
among our most recent kneelers. (See cover.)The left hand kneeler was donated by Mrs Alice Greenfield and dedicated to her husband Wally and son
Peter. It was made by Mrs Gill Thomas on behalf of the Mothers Union. The
right hand kneeler was donated and made by members of the Mothers Union,
and commemorates 70 years of the Mothers Union at St George’s. The left
hand kneeler has MU 1938, when the Mothers Union began at St George’s;
the right hand kneeler has the initials MU on a Celtic Cross. The birds portrayed are ones found in Shirley. On the left hand kneeler: Wren, Robin, Nuthatch and Green Woodpecker. The right hand kneeler has a Heron and a
Barn Owl, and a highly symbolic Dove. (The same Dove design appears on
four of the kneelers in the main church.) Both kneelers have a blue background: the traditional Virgin Mary [Our Lady] colour.
Strictly speaking, none of these Shirley birds features in the Bible or in Christian tradition. However, their Middle East counterparts do. The Heron is one
of the birds not to be eaten (Leviticus). The Robin, in legend, got its red breast
from trying to pull out the nails from the cross. The Owl features in the Bible
as a bird of the wilderness, and of ruined places; and in an apocryphal version
of the Genesis story Adam’s disobedient first wife became an owl. The Dove
appears in the Noah story, at the Baptism of Jesus, and as one of the most
popular of sacrificial creatures. There are many Bible Dove references, and
The bird seems to have been domesticated at a very early date. The Wren
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appears a great deal in secular folklore, and is noted for having more courage
and more voice than it has bulk.
The Kneelers in the nave of the church and in the side aisle
The main body of kneelers tends to move around the pews, although not under their own volition. These kneelers are therefore identified by design not
location.
(N1) Crossed keys on gate: The keys and gate symbolise St Peter, who
was told by Jesus (Matthew 16 verse 19) “I give you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven”. The gate was at that time in many cities the place where judgement was given. In Isaiah 22 verse 22 Eliakim is, as Steward, given the keys
of the house of David, and Matthew probably had this in mind. Peter had just
recognised who Jesus was, and Jesus is saying that anyone who recognises
who he is has the power to open the kingdom of heaven to others. It takes
some ingenuity to convert Jesus’ statement here into the assertion in later centuries of the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome. (That claim has to be argued
out on other grounds.) (A moment later Peter gets taken to task for trying to
divert Jesus from the way to the cross: poor Peter was only half way to understanding.) There are five key and gate kneelers: (1) Donated and made by
Mrs D Watson. (2) Donated and made by Mrs Christine Wareham. (3)
Donated and made by Mrs Nancy Chambers. (4) Label too faint to read
[Donated by Mollie Wareham, Made by Melanie]. (5) No label
(MU1-7) Mothers Union Logo: Given the key role of Mothers Union members in sponsoring the kneeler project and doing the work, the prominence of
the MU logo is no surprise. There are seven MU kneelers, with three different
designs: (1) Simple Logo: Donated and made by members of the MU, Dedicated to Mrs Lily Montague. (2) Mothers Union 1876-1976: Donated and
made by Mrs M Bennett, Dedicated to Mrs Bennett’s family. (3) Mothers Union—St Luke’s, Guyana: Donated and made by Mrs Molly Kerwood. (4)
Mothers Union 1876-1976: Donated and made by Mrs Jessie Woodward. (5)
Mothers Union 1876 - 1976: Donated by Mr Roger and Mrs Eva Keyes. Dedicated to Mrs Keyes’ parents William and Mary Domoney. Made by Mrs Eva
Keyes. (6) Mothers Union 1876 - 1976: No label. (7) Mothers Union 1876 1976: Donated by Mrs Marie White. Dedicated to Rev Father J Elliott. Made
by Mrs Mary Hambling.
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(N2) Anglican Young People’s Association: The AYPA was born in Canada in the early years of the 20th Century, and flourished in Britain down into
the 70’s. It existed at St George’s from the late 50’s, with both a senior and a
junior Branch. Its shield carries the Chi Rho sign for Christ - the first and second letters of CHRIST in Greek. The kneeler was passed between the girls to
complete. (I don’t think any boys were involved.) Donated by Mr Brian
McGinnis. Dedicated to St George’s. Made by the Members.
(N3) St George’s 70th Anniversary: This recent kneeler has some attractive
embellishments, as well as the inscription St George’s 1937 - 2007 and the
Anniversary logo designed by Alexander Baldwin-Smith, incorporating the
cross, a stylised 70 and the church tower. (See back cover.) Donated by the
Baldwin-Smith Family. Dedicated to St George’s. Made by Mrs Margaret
Baldwin-Smith.
(N4&5) Churchwarden Kneelers: (1) Crown and (2) Mitre on blue background: If you look at the staves attached to the back pews, you will see that
one is topped by a crown and the other by a mitre. The two churchwardens
work with the Vicar in managing the affairs of the church, especially its business affairs. Until 1965, there was a People’s Warden (the crown) and a
Vicar’s Warden (the mitre). Now there are just two Wardens. The crown
symbolises civil authority and the mitre (the bishops’ hat, shaped to match the
tongues of fire seen on the heads of the Apostles at Pentecost) represents
ecclesiastical authority. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Jean Wells, Dedicated
to Mr George James Dent.
2) Donated and made by Mr Bill Grant.
(N6) Font, Flowers and Cross: (1) Hannah 1/12/91, (2) Joanna 16/2/92:
Two kneelers that commemorate Baptism, in which the child has water from
the font poured three times, in honour of the Trinity, and the sign of the cross
made with oil of chrism. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Hazel Grant to commemorate the Baptism of grandchild Hannah Wickman. (2) Donated and
made by Mr Bill Grant to commemorate the Baptism of grandchild Joanna
Snelgrove.
(N7) St George’s Sunday School 1937-1977: This kneeler incorporates the
torch of learning. Made by two of the Sunday School members: Sue Davies
and Suzanne Marquardt, and Dedicated to the Sunday School.
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(N8&9) St George’s Brownies: (1) 4th Shirley Brownies, (2) 8th Shirley
Brownies: Both kneelers have the Girl Guide trefoil (three lobed leaf), used by
St Patrick in its shamrock form to illustrate the Trinity.
(1) Donated and made by the 4th Shirley Brownies.
(2) Donated and made by the 8th Shirley Brownies, and dated 5/10/80.
Flower Squares: Flowers are the part of the “natural “ world of creation that
we have most shaped, either by cultivating our own versions of wild species
(sometimes to such an extent that the wild variety would never recognise its
cultivated offspring); or by determining which wild species can grow where, in
a world where there is very little untouched wild. In the Bible Lands, where
the desert dominates, there are spectacular short-lived wild flower displays hence Jesus’ reference to the extreme but short lived beauty of flowers. The
St George’s flower kneelers commemorate the four seasons: four kneelers
were made for each season (though some seem to be missing).
(N10) Spring Flowers: (1) Donated and made by Mrs Sarah Whickman, Dedicated to G Crisp; (2) Donated and made by Miss Sarah Deeson; (3) Donated
by Miss Doreen Wash, Made by and dedicated to Audrey Bradnick; (4) Donated by Mrs Margaret Preece, Made by Mrs Ruth Cleccett, Commemorating
the help given to Margaret during her successful treatment for cancer.
(N11) Summer Flowers: (1) Donated and made by Mrs Hilary Snelgrove; (2)
Donated and made by Mrs Carol Jones, Dedicated to Mrs Daisy Styles; (3)
Donated and made by Mrs Christine Wareham, Dedicated to Mrs Christiana
Clark; (4) Donated by the church, Made by Mrs Carol Wheatley, Dedicated to
Mrs Margaret May Chester.
(N12) Autumn Flowers: (1) Donated and made by Mrs Hazel Grant, Dedicated to Victor Knight; (2) Donated and made by Mrs Linda Deeson; (3) Donated by the church, Made by Mrs Peggy Creasey; (4) Donated by Mrs Kay
Webber, Made by Mrs Eileen Jones.
(N13) Winter Flowers: (1) Donated and made by Mrs Hazel Grant, Dedicated
to Mrs Win Knight; (2) Donated and made by Mrs Lucy Hobbs, Dedicated to
Mr Russell Hobbs; (3) Donated and made by Mrs Elaine Cook; (4) Donated
by the church, Made by Mrs Maud Staniforth.
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(N14) The Dove of Peace: See the note on the Lady Chapel altar kneelers,
where the same symbolic dove appears. Ornithologists will question whether
a dove shaped like this could fly. Christians will say that this is a very special
dove. Ornithologists will be pleased that two Collared Doves have made their
home in the church grounds. These two look very realistic, and no doubt deserve the halos that they don’t have. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Jean
Cook, Dedicated to Mr Norman Cook; (2) Donated by Mrs Iris Spice, Made by
Mr Robert Ridout, Dedicated to Les A Jack; (3) Donated by Mrs Sylvia Eve,
Made by Mrs Wendola Walford, Dedicated to Mrs Nan Bragazzi; (4) Donated
by Mrs Sue Hamilton, Made by Mrs Valerie Hamilton, Dedicated to Mr Norman
Cook.
(N15) Stained Glass Windows: These red yellow and blue shapes are not
easily recognised as stained glass windows, until someone tells you that they
are stained glass windows. St George’s has only two stained glass windows
(at opposite ends of the church), though over the years workshops for the children and young people have produced some interesting amateur stained
glass. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Irene Wintgens; (2) Donated by Mrs
Sue Hamilton, Made by Mrs Valerie Hamilton, Commemorating Sue and
Roderick’s wedding 28/4/90; (3) Donated by Mrs Judy Talmage, Made by Mrs
Phyllis Talmage, Dedicated to Mr Alec Talmage; (4) Donated by Mrs Peggy
Bennett, Made by Mrs Hazel Grant.
(N16) Grapes: There are four grape kneelers. The vine and its grapes figure
prominently in the Old and the New Testaments. Israel is described as the
vine or vineyard that God planted, and that let Him down because it bore no
fruit or bad fruit. Jesus described himself as the true vine and his followers as
the branches. The Eucharistic wine is of course the fruit of the vine. 1) Donated and made by Mrs Jean Sabin, Dedicated To Emmeline Hemmings died
1991; (2) Donated and made by Rev Nigel Kirkup, Dedicated to Mrs Elizabeth
Bell his Grandmother; (3) and (4) Donated by Brian Lee and Made by Molly.
(N17) The Eucharist: Eucharist is one name for the Communion Service, and
emphasises it as a thanksgiving. These three kneelers, incorporate the CHI
RHO sign - the first letters of Christ’s name in Greek, a chalice (the Communion cup) and a wafer (the bread) with IHS on it - the first two and the last letters
of Jesus in Greek. The older form of “Jesus” is IHCOYC, giving IHC,
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The Wedding Kneeler
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N42
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but IHSOYS gives IHS. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Jean Cook, commemorating the Confirmation of Mr Roderick Hamilton; (2) Donated by Mrs Eileen
Jones, Made by Mrs Lesley Slade, Dedicated to Mr Richard Webber 6/xi/1985;
(3) Donated by Mrs Betty Ireland, Made by Mr Bill Grant.
(N18) Easter (Cross entwined with lilies): (1)Donated and made by Mr Bill
Grant; (2) Donated Mrs Hambling, Dedicated Len Hambling, Made Mrs D
Watson
(N19) Angel Window (Coloured panes with central angel): (1) Donated
and made by Mrs Roma Charlton, in memory of Mrs Dorothy Church; (2) Donated and made by Mrs Carol Cooke.
(N20) Rural Scene (Spring): (1) Donated and made by Miss Sarah Deeson,
in memory of Mr Geoffrey Stacey; (2) No label.
(N21) Lamb and Flag: Perhaps better known on pub signs, this celebrates
Christ’s sacrifice and triumph as the Lamb of God (Agnus Dei). Donated and
made by Mrs Nancy Chambers, in memory of Mr Norman Chambers.
(N22) Sunday School (Teacher with Children): Made by Mrs Pat Howell
(N23) Children’s Society (3 Children): Donated and made by Mrs Lindsey
Morgan (the St George’s Secretary for the Society), Dedicated to Mr Ned
Sparks.
(N24) Three Ships: Features the three ships from the Christmas carol, and
quotes from two carols - “I saw three ships” and “Unto us a child is born”. As
with other threes, the three ships are often associated with the Trinity. Donated Mrs Kirkman, Made by Mrs Margaret Kirkman and Dave.
(N25) USPG: United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel now has a
strap line “Anglicans in World Mission” and a new logo. The kneeler features
the logo of crosses around the world. USPG was the amalgamation of the Universities Mission to Central Africa and the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts. Donated and made by Miss Doris Fry (our Missionary Committee Secretary for several years), and Dedicated to St George’s.
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(N26) Font and Flower Border: Includes the name Anthony Slade and the
date 19 April 1992. Donated and made by Mrs Eileen Jones, Commemorating
Antony Slade’s Baptism.
(N27) Bible Society: Features the BS initials and the Bible Society logo with
its four stylised book readers shaped as a cross. Two kneelers Donated and
made by Mrs Mary Hambling, who looked after distribution of the Bible reading notes.
(N28) Crown on blue background (“Our Lord”): St George’s 1937-97:
Donated and made by the Mothers Union, Dedicated to St George’s on its
60th Anniversary.
(N29) 1977 Silver Jubilee EIIR (Crown and Laurel): There are seven kneelers with this design: (1) Donated by the Vosper Family, Dedicated to St
George’s, Made by Mrs Alma and Miss Jane Vosper; (2) Illegible; (3) and (4)
Donated and made by Mrs Olive Johnson, Dedicated to her Mother; (5) Donated by Mr Don Lloyd, Made by Mrs Brenda Lloyd; (6) Donated and made by
Mrs M Nicholson, Dedicated to Mr James Williams; (7) Illegible.
(N30) Fleur de Lys (Gold on Blue): We connect this with France, and wonder what it has to do with God...not that the French are ungodly. It is a common symbol for the Virgin Mary, and was then adopted by the French kings
and by Joan of Arc. There are two kneelers with this symbol: (1) Donated and
made by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to ?; (2) Donated by E S Bennett,
Dedicated St George’s.
(N31) The Three Fishes: The Three Fish symbolise both Christ and the Holy
Trinity. There are six kneelers with the Three Fish: (1) No label; (2) Donated
by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mr EP Hambling;
(3) (With a wavy design on the sides) Donated and made by Mrs Valerie Hamilton, Dedicated to Mr Rod Hamilton; (4) Donated and made by Miss Doris
Fry, Dedicated to St George’s; (5) No label; (6) Donated and made by Miss
Eileen Hare, Dedicated to Mr and Mrs Hare.
(N32) Twelve Coloured “Potent” Crosses on a Diamond Background:
This is another popular design, with seven examples: (1) and (2) Donated and
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made by Mrs Nicholson; (3) Donated by Mr Don Lloyd, Dedicated to St
George’s, Made by Mrs Brenda Lloyd; (4) Donated by Mr and Mrs Sebire,
Made by Mrs Irene Sage; (5) Donated and made by Mrs P Vince, Dedicated
to Mrs Eva Annie Vince; (6) Illegible; (7) Donated by Mr D Frost, Dedicated to
Grandmother.
(N33) The Scout Emblem (White on Purple on Green): (1) Donated by the
31st Croydon Scouts, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by the Wright Family;
(2) Donated by Mrs Anne Clarke, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mr EP
Hambling; (3) Made by Shirley Gardner.
(N34) Sing to the Lord (with stave of music): (1) Donated by Mrs Wendola
Walford, Made by Wendola and Miss Sarah Walford, Dedicated to Mr Michael
Walford; (2) Donated and made by Mrs Pauline Whalley, Dedicated to Laura
Harding; (3) Donated by Mrs Margaret Ziolek, Made by Ann Ziolek, Dedicated
to Florence and Arthur Glover.
(N35) Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain: This is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in Great Britain. Note the pestle
and mortar at the top of the crest of the Society. Donated and made by Mrs
Alma Vosper, Dedicated to Mr Ray Vosper - a Member of the RPSGB.
(N36) The Blues and The Royals: Created in 1969 from the Royal Horse
Guards (The Blues) and the Royal Dragoons (1st Dragoons). The RHG goes
back to forces raised by Oliver Cromwell for the Scots wars, and made into the
Household Cavalry in 1813. The Dragoons go back to Charles II and the force
created to defend Tangier, which came to the Crown with Catherine of Braganza. Donated by Mr and Mrs Ray Vosper, Made by Mrs Vosper. Nick
Vosper’s regiment.
(N37) Wedding (Dove, Ring, Book and Lilies; 1970, 1990): (1)Donated and
made by Mrs Jean Cook, Dedicated to Marriages of Howard/Carole, and Sue/
Roderick.; (2) P + A June 1991; (3) M + G October 1991.
(N38) St George’s Cross 1952-2002: Donated Frosts, Made by Mrs Jean
Cook, Dedicated to 50 years of St George’s.
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(N39) Cross and Rectangle (Green and Yellow on Blue): Some of the
kneeler designs are from catalogues, others are one-offs, yet others were improvised in-house and caught on. There are six of this design: (1) Donated
by Mr and Mrs Clive Pearson, Dedicated to Leonard Pearson, Made by Mrs
Norma Pearson. (2) Made by D Hambling; (3) Donated and made by Mrs B
M Evenden, Dedicated to St George’s; (4) Donated by G Hambling; (5) Donated by Mrs B M Evenden, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mrs Evenden
and Mrs Hambling; (6) Donated and made by Mr E P Hambling.
(N40) Canterbury Cross with border: (1) Donated by Mr and Mrs F Vickery,
Made by Margaret Vickery, Dedicated to Alison Vickery. (2) Donated and
Made Mrs Pickles Brown. (Note: Not the familiar 9th Century Canterbury
Cross.)
(N41) Golden Cross with grey circle, on red: This is, predictably, another
popular design, with eight examples: (1) Donated and made by Mrs L Pearson; (2) Donated by Mr and Mrs C Pearson, Made by Mrs Pearson, Dedicated
to Charles Rosens; (3) Donated and made by Mrs Marion Frank, Dedicated to
St George’s; (4) Donated and made by Mrs L Montague; (5) (6) Illegible; (7)
Donated and Made Mrs CA Bennett; (8) Made Mr Hambling..
(N42) White Rose (on green background): The White Rose is the rose of
the House of York. (Red Rose for Lancaster. The Tudor Rose combined the
two colours.) There are seven kneelers in this series, plus two in a different
white rose series - see below. (1) Made by Mrs Betty Hayward; (2) Made by
Mr E P Hambling. (3) Made by Mr E P Hambling. (4) Donated by the Vosper
Family; Made by Mrs Alma Vosper; Dedicated to St George’s; (5) Made by
Mrs B Jones; (6) Made by Mrs D Watson; (7) Donated and made by Mrs
Olive Johnson, Dedicated to her Mother.
(N43) The Lincoln White Rose (on blue): Another in the Jacksons Cathedral
series. The Diocese of Lincoln is in the area of the York Archbishopric. Donated and made by Mrs Mabel Wenn, Dedicated to Mrs Annie Wenn.
(N44) Blue and Red Wave Pattern (Not easy to describe this attractive design). There are three examples: (1) Illegible; (2) Made by Mrs Swift; (3)
Donated and made by Mrs V Saunders, Dedicated to R Saunders.
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N45) Celtic Cross (White Cross superimposed on yellow, green and brown
circles). 10 examples: (1) Donated and made by Mrs Hazel Grant; (2) Made
by Mrs Watson; (3) No label; (4) Donated by Mrs F Hanslip, Made by Mr E P
Hambling; (5) Donated and made by Mrs Olive Johnson, Dedicated to her
Mother; (6) Donated by Mrs G Farmer, Made by Mrs A Barker; (7) Donated
and made by Miss Doris Fry, Dedicated to St George’s; (8) Made by Mr E P
Hambling; (9) Donated by Mrs Margaret Kirkman; (10) Donated and made
Mrs Betty White, Dedicated Mrs N Z Andrews.
(N46) Flower Circle on green, central cross: The most popular design: ten
examples: (1) Donated by Friends of Mrs Gladys Baker, Dedicated to Gladys
Baker; (2) Donated and made by Mrs Betty Robson; (3) Donated by Mr B G
Thomas, Dedicated to Mr Frank Clements, Made by Mrs Gill Thomas; (4) Donated by Mr Don Lloyd, Made by Mrs Brenda Lloyd; (5) Donated by Mr Roger
Keyes, Made by Mrs Keyes; (6) Donated and made by Mrs H J Grant; (6)
Donated by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mr E P
Hambling; (7) Made by Mrs Clark; (8) Donated by Mr and Mrs Fitt, Dedicated
to Mr Nicholson, Made by Mrs Madge Nicholson; (9) Made by Miss Lorna Jacobs: (10)Donated and made Mrs Betty Ireland.
(N47) Crosses in squares: This rather attractive design appears in a number
of different colour combinations. A Persian/Roman instrument of torture and
slow butchery was an unlikely symbol for a new faith that offered the great
hope of resurrection. (Resurrection symbols, other than the empty cross, are
hard to come by; and there are no non-cross resurrection symbols anywhere
in St George’s.) (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) Donated by Mrs Mary Hambling,
Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mr E P Hambling; (8) Donated by Mr E P
Hambling, Dedicated to St George’s, Made by Mrs Mary Hambling; (9) Donated and made by Mrs Mary Hambling, Dedicated to C E Jones. Mrs Hambling was previously Mrs Jones and her husband Charles Jones.
N48) Squiggles: It is tempting to try to turn these abstract shapes into seraphim (superior angels sometimes credited with six pairs of wings), but they
look more like pleasing shapes: (1) Made by Mrs Betty Robson; (2) Made by
Mr E P Hambling; (3) Donated and made by P L Vince, Dedicated to Herbert
Steven Vince; (4) Donated and made by Mrs E Bennett, Dedicated to St
George’s; (5) Blank.
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N49) Canterbury Arms and Music Stave: Blank label.
(N50) Yellow and Red Stars on Blue: The star is a reminder of Epiphany,
when the birth of the Jewish Messiah was shared, as the Old Testament
prophets had foretold, with people in distant lands. There are six of these
kneelers. (1) Donated and made by Mrs Mabel Wenn, Dedicated to Elen
Russell; (2) Blank; (3) Donated by Mrs J Sharp, Dedicated to Elizabeth
Searle and Wesley Sharpe, Made by E S J Sharp; (4) Donated and made by
Mrs Bennett;; (5) Made Mrs Crook; (6) Made M Blake.
(N51) Church of England and Hands holding Chalice and Cross - Flower
Arrangers: Donated by Mrs Hazel Grant, Made by Mr Bill Grant.
(N52) Chi Rho Sign with Crosses: The Greek legacy to Christianity is a very
visible one: our letter symbols for Jesus Christ are mainly Greek. In English
letters, CHI RHO = CHR. There are two kneelers - Both donated and made by
Mrs Mary Hambling and Dedicated to St George’s.
(N53) God the Holy Spirit : Dove with halo on a red background: St
George’s 1937-1997: Donated and made by Mothers Union members, Dedicated to St George’s on its 60th Anniversary.
(N54) Royal Engineers: Donated and made by Mrs Phrynne Taylor. Missing.
(N55) Cross of Glory: With Alpha and Omega (Beginning and End) Greek
letters(1) Donated and made by Mrs Pickles Brown; (2) Donated by Miss
Sheila Fenner, Made by Miss Hilary Eve (Rev Hilary Fife). (See N65)
(N56) World Peace (Map of World, white on blue): (1)Donated and made by
Mrs Eileen Urwin, in memory of Mr Robert Urwin; (2)Donated Mrs Jean Cook,
Made Carole Cook, Thank You St George’s.
(N57) Cross on circle (on dark blue) with corner crosses and knot pattern: Donated and made by Mrs Fiona Humphrey (nee Newell) “with fond
memories of happy times at St George’s”.
(N58) Fish and Chi Rho Sign (blue, gold and white): Two sets of Greek ini-
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tials initials for Christ ICHTHUS (fish) = Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour, and
Ch Rho for Christos. Donated and made by Mothers Union, Dedicated to St
George’s.
(N59) St George’s Church 1937-1987: A white portrait of the church on a red
background. There are three kneelers: (1) No label, (2) Made by Mrs B Newell, (3) Illegible.
(N60) Three headed Lily: Links the Trinity and the Virgin Mary. Donated and
made by Mr John Wells, Dedicated to Mrs Carolena Dent.
(N61) Praying Hands, Cross and Three Lancet Windows: Confirmation:
(1)Donated and made by Mrs Barbara Newell, Dedicated to Mr Robert Urwin;
(2) Illegible.
(N62) Girl Guide Trefoil, PT: The three-leaflet trefoil has been copied from
nature into both architecture and heraldry. (1) Blank; (2) Donated 4th Shirley
Guides . Made by Mrs G Barker.
(N63) St George, Shirley, 1937-1977 (with St George’s Shield): Three
kneelers. (1) Made by Mr E P Hambling, (2) Made by Mr EP Hambling, (3)
Donated by Mrs Mary Hambling, Made by Mr E P Hambling, Dedicated to St
George’s.
(N64) Font and Candles: Donated and made Mrs Jean Cook; Dedicated to
five family Baptisms.
(N65) Alpha and Omega, and Cross: Christ is described as the Alpha and
the Omega, the Beginning and the End - these two letters being the first and
the last letters of the Greek alphabet.: Donated by Mrs Mary Hambling, made
by Mrs Pickles Brown, Dedicated to Mr Len Hambling.
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Compiler’s Note: It is thanks to Mrs Hazel Styles that it has been possible to
compile a fairly complete list of kneelers. Hazel listed the kneelers some
years ago when labels were more legible. Unfortunately, both some labels
and some kneelers have disappeared since then, and this booklet is not a
complete record of all the kneelers made for St George’s, and their donors,
makers and dedication. My apologies to anyone whose labours have gone
unrecorded. I did try to get a complete record. Kneelers seem to come and go
in a rather mysterious way!
Special thanks to Philip Talmage for the magnificent photographs.
Thanks to Hazel Styles, Pam and Mike Hooks, Chris Wareham, and other
proof readers. The remaining faults are mine.
Next time you kneel, spare a thought (and a prayer) for the labour of love your
kneeler represents.
O worship the Lord
In the beauty of holiness;
Bow down before him,
His glory proclaim;
With gold of obedience
And incense of lowliness,
Kneel and adore him:
The Lord is his name.
Fear not to enter
His courts in the slenderness
Of the poor wealth
Thou wouldst reckon as thine:
Truth in its beauty,
And love in its tenderness,
These are the offerings
To lay on his shrine.
(J S B Monsell 1811-1875)
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St George’s 70tyh Anniversary Kneeler
With Alexander Baldwin-Smith’s St George’s Logo
Made by Mrs Margaret Baldwin-Smith
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