Monday, August 08, 2016

Guild of St Clare Vestment mending day

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A young Guild member hand-sews a new linging on a maniple. This, like most the
days' tasks, simply cannot be done by machine.

The Oxford branch of the Guild of St Clare held a Vestment mending session on Saturday, an example of the kind of work which they can do to support the liturgy.

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Doing the same work on the matching Chalice veil.

There were a number of vestments from the Norbertine Priory in Chelmsford, and an altar frontal from SS Gregory & Augustine in Oxford. The vestments are not of especially high value: it would not be worth spending vast sums on professional restorers. But they need careful attention by people with a variety of skills and an understanding of how vestments work, and are used, if these very decent vestments are to return to use.

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Working on a white cope.
For example, one green Low Mass set's lining was completely worn out, and was replaced. In another case, a high-quality, silk lining fabric was intact but worn out at the edge, so it has been edged with another, appropriate material, at minimal cost in materials.

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The ladies of the Guild were able to combine their experience and skills on Saturday afternoon to made a big inroad to the pile of worn out vestments which Fr Stephen Morrison OPraem found in the Chelmsford sacristy, as a taster of the kind of work for which the Guild was established. The Guild charges for the cost of fabric and a small amount per hour, to subsidise members' training.

The Guild is affiliated to the Latin Mass Society.

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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:39 pm

    Salve!

    How often do they offer these meaning days?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This was the first of its kind. It is hoped they will become a regular thing.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:48 am

      Super! I might have a few things to put before them.

      Delete