LEATHERHEAD PARISH CHURCH - THE WEST DOOR CURTAINS

LEATHERHEAD
PARISH
CHURCH

THE WEST DOOR CURTAINS

This curtain was started in the spring of 1979 when Pauline Smith (who became a Vicar in the diocese of Salisbury) was churchwarden.

The individual squares depict various aspects of parish life and also interesting buildings in the town.

Since the project was started there have been many changes in Leatherhead and so the curtain has become, in a way, a memorial to old Leatherhead, but it also illustrates the many organizations which will go from strength to strength and take Leatherhead into the future.

Writing in April 1982 Pauline expressed "my gratitude to Marjorie Berry who constantly encouraged me and who, together with Vivien Aylmer, paid for the curtain. Also to Mary Taylor who made up the curtain and gave me the benefit of the wealth of her professional experience. Leslie Walters kindly pointed me in the right direction and arranged for me to go to Addington Palace to a course on Ecclesiastical Embroidery. This may be a far cry from what I saw there, nevertheless I learned a great deal. I should also like to thank the many kind friends who helped in various ways and especially all those who were persuaded to embroider the squares."

Thanks are due to Pauline Smith for her descriptions of all the embroideries; to Anthony Hill for his drawing of the church on the cover of the original leaflet; to Jane Summerfield for typing it; and, above all, to Joan Burnett for providing the leaflets in Church describing the Curtain, in memory of her sister, Dorothy Hopkins, who died on Christmas Day 1986 and to Linda Heath for supervising the text on these pages.

Some of the curtain panels show buildings which no longer exist or organisations which have changed. Many of those involved with the Curtain are no longer with us - may these pages be a small memorial to their skill and dedication. Do come and see the curtain for yourself.

from the May 2004 magazine
West Door Curtains [see them on our website via More > West Door Curtain]
As we hope you will have noticed by now, the curtains at the West Door are back in their rightful place. Yes, they are shorter than they were, but as it was the first time they had ever been cleaned, and, being linen, they have shrunk the normal 5%! Michael at Wing Cleaners very kindly cleaned them for us and they are certainly brighter than they were.

Pat Gardner, who wanted them renovated in memory of her husband Bob, suggested the idea several years ago and we are most grateful to her for providing some of the necessary equipment for their installation. The idea was put into operation earlier this year and we must thank Ann Day very much indeed for the magnificent restoration job that she has done. We must also thank Chris Presley for giving up an afternoon to erect the new pole and attach the curtains. It has been a team effort all round.

It has been decided that they should hang for a while and then a small, unobtrusive "skirt" will be added to the bottom to keep out next winter's draughts. Martin Cole, Frances Presley, Bernard Salsbury: Churchwardens