St. Paul's Cathedral commissions complete set of vestments for first time in its history
21/08/08
As part of its 300 anniversary celebrations and £40 million restoration campaign, St Paul's Cathedral has commissioned a new set of over 100 vestments, designed by Central Saint Martins Woven Textile Design Student, Marie Brisou. The results of this unique vestment project will be exhibited at Central Saint Martins between 22 September and 8 November.
To celebrate the tercentenary of the topping out of the building, Central Saint Martins Woven Textile students were invited to enter a competition for the commission to design the new vestments. The brief required the vestments to have longevity in design and quality and to complement the Baroque surroundings of the Cathedral.
Marie Brisou won the competition and has been working on the project since September 2005 during which time she has completed an MA in Textile Design at the Royal College of Art. The services of The Gainsborough Silk Weaving Company were offered by Managing Director, Neil Thomas to weave the fabrics and a small studio reached through the crypt became the centre of activity for Brisou, studio manager Kate Sinton and their team of volunteers and embroiderers, led by Jane Raven.
Brisou worked closely with St. Paul's to decide appropriate themes and symbols. A phoenix rises from the flames in the jacquard, a reminder of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the Cathedral emerged from the debris left by the Great Fire of London.
4000 Swarovski crystals, 1442 tassels, 2500 metres of gold and silver thread, 100 metres of gold bullion fringe and hundreds of pins and needles have gone in to the creation of the vestments.
Canon Martin Warner, Treasurer at St Paul's Cathedral, said "This unique project has brought together a range of people that are representative of the fantastic diversity of skills and backgrounds in London. This is emblematic of the kind of mission St Paul's seeks to have amongst the international mix of people who worship, visit, pray and work at the Cathedral. We are particularly grateful to our funders, the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, the Worshipful Company of Broderers, the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers and the Friends of St Paul's who have made it possible. These beautiful vestments demonstrate the vitality of talent that still exists in this art form today."
‘Glorious: St Paul's Cathedral Vestments' is at Central Saint Martins between 22 September and 8 November.
For more information, images or interviews please contact Hannah Talbot, Press & Communications Officer, St Paul's Cathedral on 0207 246 8321 or email hannah@stpaulscathedral.org.uk
Notes to editors:
‘Glorious: St Paul's Cathedral Vestments'
Venue:Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AP
Dates: 22 September - 8 November 2008
Times:
Monday - Fridays 10am - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Entry: Free
St Paul's is the cathedral church of the diocese of London, which it has served for over 1,400 years. The current building has become a potent symbol of the life of a nation and is also one of the world's most beautiful buildings. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late seventeenth century, its stones have absorbed the hopes, fears, sorrows and joys of generations and stand as an enduring symbol of our communion with those gone before and those still to come. Each year nearly two million people flock to the Cathedral for services, concerts, debates, educational events, performing arts and sightseeing. All are most welcome.
As part of its 300th anniversary celebrations, the Cathedral is undergoing an historic £40 million restoration campaign to mark the anniversary and to prepare the Cathedral for its next three hundred years.
The St Paul's Cathedral Foundation is a registered charity (no.1082711) and a limited company (no. 4040667), established in 2000. Its objective is to raise funds for, and make grants to the Cathedral for its maintenance, restoration, repair and conservation and the furtherance of its theological, educational and musical work. www.stpauls.co.uk/foundation
