NINETY infant school children have helped create a two metre tall, hand-sewn tapestry to inspired by the celebrations of All Saints Church’s 150th anniversary in Tilford.

Pupils from All Saint’s School first helped create a patchwork wall hanging for the village church’s 150th anniversary last year, piecing together sections with those of other Tilford clubs and organisations. This is on display in the church for all to see.

But buoyed by the success of the first hanging, the children have now created their own tapestry to proudly display at school.

Six mums - Katy Worthy, Jude Holt, Perdy Finn, Lucy Marshall, Diana Wadsworth and Susie McIntyre - known collectively as the ‘Ministry of Sewing’, volunteered to make plans for a second wall hanging above the entrance of the school with the theme of Christian values in the form of a tree.

Parent Katy Worthy said: “The headmistress, Mrs Bedford, loved the church’s wall hanging so much that it evolved into a bigger challenge of creating a larger wall hanging for the school entrance with a similar theme.”

The school’s 90 students were tasked with hand sewing their own leaf to decorate the tree in October last year. The school’s Christian values ‘love, perseverance and joy’ are in the roots of the tree as well as birds resembling the school’s class names Woodpeckers, Kingfishers and Owls.

“We wanted to make it personal to the school and the children that studied within this year, so every child was tasked with hand sewing their own leaf,” added Katy.

“A great deal of work has gone into producing the tapestry and a lot of love and energy from both parents and children.”

All Saints C of E Infant School’s headmistress Sara Bedford added: “The wall hanging is truly beautiful and encapsulates the richness and creativity of the children and community. I am hugely appreciative of the ‘Ministry of Sewing’ parents, thank you.” 

The wall hanging measures 1.4 metres by two metres and was presented, along with three cushions with hand sewn birds on the front, as a surprise in an assembly.

Mrs Bedford continued: “The wall hanging was such a fantastic surprise; a gift that brought tears to my eyes. I truly love that every child has sewn a leaf and their names are recorded on the back of the hanging.”

All Saints School is set in “wooded grounds” and “makes the most of the beautiful surroundings with a senses garden”.