The Millennium Wall Hanging

As the year 2000 approached, the Catholic Women's League decided to celebrate the occasion with an embroidered wall hanging. Edith O'Sullivan, who had been the nursery nurse at St. Winefride's school for 22 years presented the CWL with a design which was based on one she had hoped to embroider with the children before her retirement.

The rainbow represented a symbol of hope and God's promise not to desert his people. Three shades of each of the seven rainbow colours of tapestry wool were used.Wall hanging experts were consulted regarding suitable materials and work began at the beginning of 1999 - the idea being that all CWL members would be involved in the embroidery. It became apparent that with so many people sewing with different tensions that the traditional semi-circular rainbow was becoming horseshoe shaped ! Eventually it had to be cut out and appliquéd onto a second piece of pale blue aida material.

A sandstone St.Winefride's Church and felt multi-coloured figures depicting all peoples were appliquéd. Then a gold cross and 2000 were added.

Edith completed the wall hanging with the text done in counted cross stitch:

“God  loved the world so much that he gave us His only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him will  have eternal life."

With Fr Courell and CWL members present Tom McKeown hung the embroidery where it still hangs today. Fr Courell blessed the wall hanging on the Feast of Christ the King, November 21^st 1999.

Angela Devitt