Spicer - Banner Page

(Click on the photos to see them in more detail.)

This is our new banner - completed on Monday 28th November 1999. These are the people who made it all possible. Thank you all for your contributions.
The making of the banners
Below are some of the previous banners our Church has made.

These three banners show the nature and work of God - God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Each banner has something to be seen from a distance and more to see as you move closer. This feature represents the way our relationship with God grows - from something we experience at a distance, to a relationship that is deep and intimate. If you are drawn from a distance to come closer, it will be as if you are on a pilgrimage of discovery.
Each banner has a cross which unifies the whole work.

The central words from the Bible - John 3:16 - summarise the message of the banners.
GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH
The first banner is purple and blue, the royal colours of the God of all creation.

We see the giving God who, as the Creator, gives His light into a dark world.

He gives us the Bible, to guide and teach us.

Like a growing plant, God's life is in us from conception to eternal life after death. The greatness of God's love is extended to the world, that we all may be saved.
HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON
The second banner, black and yellow, shows the dark agony of the cross bringing the light into the world.

God's love is shown through the nature and work of Jesus.

As a candle gives light in the darkness, so Jesus gives light to the world.

He came as a baby, to live amongst us, showing us how to live to our full potential.

As we eat and drink the Communion elements of bread and wine, we are reminded of the graciousness of God through Jesus' death and resurrection.

The body symbolises the Church - God's family.

His people are called to offer hope and newness to all.
WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT DIE
The third banner of royal blue on a white background represents the spirit of holiness and purity. In this we see the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, who is our guide to all truth.

The light of God in the world in the "light" that burns and consumes the "darkness" within us.

As oil pours forth from a jar, so the Word of the Spirit pours forth upon His people.

We are called to bear the fruits of the Spirit - showing love and compassion to all.

To fulfil this calling, individuals are equipped with various gifts for use in partnership with Him.



THE STORY OF THE MAKING OF THE SPICER HALL BANNERS
"THE LORD IS MY BANNER"
The idea of the banner was the inspiration of our minister at the time, Brian Hannaford. In June 1994, the suggestion was made to visit the Hope Valley Church to see some of the banners (or quilts) designed by Carol Wollaston.

In July, the idea of a banner to cover one of the walls in the hall was brought to the Elders' meeting. Carol brought along her drawings that represented her vision, and also brought some samples of her work.

On 27th September, it was "all go!". Pam Jones, one of our elders, was coordinator from Spicer, and she and Carol gathered up all sorts of materials from far and wide.

On 11th October, the first meeting for the sewers was called - when we saw the designs etc. some of us felt we could never do it, but it proved to be one of the most exciting projects ever undertaken at Spicer.

There were nine ladies as a core sewing group but five others worked at home. We met 4-5 times before Christmas, then after January break, we resumed in February to meet weekly until our "D" date that was 24th March, but we actually finished on 18th March. Of course there were countless hours of sewing done at all homes throughout this time.

The making of the banner was a four (4) part challenge:

  1. We had become a parish in our own right and it represented a real challenge to do something on our own.
  2. It was to be a Christian witness, to the many unchurched and non-Christian people who use the hall.
  3. To help with the acoustics of the hall.
  4. To make a beautiful, colourful work of art, an inspiration to whoever sees it.
The Actual Making!
Each banner was composed of four sections that were worked and embroidered individually as required. Then they were padded with a wool lining on to a cotton backing. Then on each of the 12 sections, we did all the quilting.

Each four sections were then linked up with the central cross - each of the three banners measured to exactly match the length and breadth of each other. The cross line of each cross had to match up. Then the top bands to go over the curtain poles were attached - then the outside binding sewn on - and then hand stitched all around. There are many types of material and fabrics used: cotton, taffeta, wool, felt, raffia, tartans, lace, velvet, many strands of embroidery cottons and wools.
The Hanging
It took several hours on two consecutive Saturdays to erect. The first Saturday to mark the position for the brackets so that the banners would be level, and finally to again erect the scaffolding to hang the banners and to provide the document to frame beside them which explained the meaning of the whole work.

The completed project was blessed at the conclusion of the morning service on 24th March, 1995, and ready for the first public showing through the next week during our first Easter Sights & Sounds Exhibition at Spicer.