Arts and Crafts Exhibition – Wymeswold Methodist Chapel

We are delighted to share with you the following account of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition which took place at Wymeswold Methodist Chapel on the 24th and 25th October 2026.

A big thank you to Eleri Bristow for writing and sharing this with us!

‘If you are planning an event sometime, I have some paintings I’d be willing to exhibit and sell!’ This passing comment from my friend Irene Goodrich, who is a talented artist, planted a seed that led to a fantastic community event in the rural chapel at Wymeswold where I serve as Local Lay Pastor.  It helped that I had recently taken responsibility for a collection that had belonged to Miss Norah Senior MBE, a former Methodist Missionary (she was the principal of the Methodist Girls High School in Bathurst, now Banjul, in the Gambia from 1939 to 1957), which included a range of African Tribal Art along with her own oil paintings – most of which was looking for new homes!  In addition, one of our members, Kerry Trencher, runs craft workshops in the village with both children and adults and encourages inclusive craft activities at the Chapel.  A beautiful crochet wreath and a set of Advent Candle banners, made last year as a community project, were obvious candidates for display.  So we had the nucleus for an event.

Our team at Wymeswold reached out to contacts and secured the promise of the following further displays: ceramics by the late Richard Adams (father of one of the Circuit Local Preachers, Liz Newton); embroidery and canvaswork from Christine Watkins (another Local Lay Pastor in the Circuit) including items made by prisoners through a project called FineCell; lace work, greetings cards and embroidery created by Lorraine Ellison (a village resident); and two scenes from the Knitted Bible made by members of Melton Mowbray Methodist Church.

Visitors to the exhibition, which was open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, were able to enjoy refreshments including home-made cakes provided by the Chapel community and listen to music on the flute (recorded by one of our younger members) and organ (played live by Chris Hill on Saturday and David Bristow on Sunday).  Some items of art for sale were priced, but mostly we invited donations towards Chapel funds and we were amazed at people’s generous response raising over £700.

But the real highlight of the weekend was the service held on the Sunday morning with visitors from at least six other churches in the Circuit.  For a small rural congregation the joy of having nearly 60 people filling the chapel to share worship together was so uplifting.  A dramatized rendition of the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, performed by Liz Lamb, and the story of the Lost Sheep, using the Knitted Bible story on display, helped us to explore the idea that we all have gifts to share and all are loved and valued by God.  Janet Thomas played Ave Verum by Mozart on her Viola while we all reflected on how we might be inspired to use our own gifts in God’s service, and also encourage and nurture the talents of others.

A big vote of thanks goes to all who helped in any way to enable this event to take place.  The faithful few in Wymeswold are already asking ‘what’s next?’

Eleri Bristow, Local Lay Pastor, Wymeswold Methodist Chapel
Charnwood and Mowbray Circuit