July 21, 2017 1.40 pm This story is over 79 months old

Wool I never! Exhibition of knitted local churches heading to Lincoln Cathedral

Hand knitted versions of six Lincolnshire parish churches will go on display at Lincoln Cathedral in August. The knitted churches have all been hand-crafted by community groups as part of the artsNK managed Woolly Spires project and will be on display from August 1 to 30. The exhibition includes one church from each district of…

Hand knitted versions of six Lincolnshire parish churches will go on display at Lincoln Cathedral in August.

The knitted churches have all been hand-crafted by community groups as part of the artsNK managed Woolly Spires project and will be on display from August 1 to 30.

The exhibition includes one church from each district of Lincolnshire: St Denys’, Sleaford; St Mary & St Nicolas, Spalding; St Botolph’s (the Stump), Boston; St James’, Louth; St Wulfram’s, Grantham; and St Mary’s (Stow Minster), Stow.

The woolly version of St James’ Church in Louth

Originally commissioned by The Collection, Lincoln, the project takes its inspiration from the fact that many of Lincolnshire’s churches were funded by wealthy landowners who made their fortune on the backs of the county’s iconic breed of sheep, the Lincoln Longwool.

artsNK have been working with community groups across Lincolnshire since 2009, supporting them to create amazingly detailed woollen versions of their local churches which are knitted over a scaled down model.

This is the first time that all six churches will be on show together, with the woolly version of St Wulfram’s Church, Granthan and St Mary’s Church, Stow, having only recently been completed.

Marion Sander, artsNK Visual Arts Development Co-ordinator said: “The ‘Woolly Spires’ of Lincolnshire are the most wonderful, tactile creations made entirely with the wool of the Lincoln Longwool sheep.

“They are absolutely loved by young and old alike. This is a fantastic community art project marrying traditional crafts with local history.

“We are delighted to exhibit all the woolly churches together for the first time in the beautiful Lincoln Cathedral, celebrating the stunning work created by six community knitting groups.”

‘Woolly Spires’ will be available to view during normal Cathedral opening hours in the South Transept. The exhibition is free but normal Cathedral entry charges apply.