Love in Every Stitch: celebrating 150 years at Truro Cathedral

As part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, Truro Diocesan Mothers’ Union brought together more than 50 beautiful banners from across Cornwall for a special exhibition at Truro Cathedral.

Titled ‘Love in Every Stitch’, the exhibition showcased the handiwork of Mothers’ Union members over the decades. As Judith Field, MU member and Truro Cathedral Fundraising Officer, explained: ‘The exhibition is called “Love in Every Stitch” because each of these beautiful banners was hand-sewn with loving care.’

While an exhibition had also been held to mark MU’s 140th anniversary, this year’s celebration was even bigger, with banners of all ages and styles displayed throughout the Cathedral.

Finding them all was no small task. Judith contacted churches across the diocese to find out whether they had a banner to contribute. Some had been tucked away and forgotten, making the search something of a treasure hunt. Along the way, the banners also brought back memories for parishioners whose relatives had been Mothers’ Union members in years gone by.

The banners varied greatly, from historic designs to more modern creations, with many featuring images of Mary and the infant Jesus, reflecting themes of mothering and the love of God. Most were blue or edged in blue, although one mystery remains unsolved: why the Mothers’ Union banner for Cornwall is red!

The exhibition also included information about the work of Mothers’ Union locally and around the world. During the exhibition, members held a family fun day inside the Cathedral, offering free activities for local families and visitors alike. There was even a bouncy castle and a Mothers’ Union member dressed as a dinosaur!

Families of all kinds came along, including local residents, holidaymakers, grandparents with children and local childminders. Visitors were also invited to explore the exhibition and vote for their favourite banner, although many found choosing just one a challenge.

By the end of the exhibition, hundreds of votes had been cast. And while many of the beautiful banners received votes, there was one clear favourite: the Mothers’ Union banner from St Wenap in the small village of Gwennap, near Redruth.