Diana Barrett - Bridal Hassock

Bridal Hassock

From a newspaper report at the time – about 1985.

Couples kneeling to take vows at All Saints Church, East Winch, will have Mrs Diana Barrett to thank for their nuptial comfort.

Installed in front of the altar is a newly woven bridal hassock depicting an easterly view of the church and grounds.

Mrs Barrett of Torwood, Gayton Road, has spent 15 months completing the task, working in her spare time, and finally unveiled the fruit of her labour last week.

Part of the design is taken from charts, but she has had to rely on a photograph for guidance in re-creating the church.

“It is very tiring work” says Mrs Barrett, who added that she was unsure of the total number of stitches, but guessed that there were between 10,000 and 11,000.

The pews are already equipped with a number of single hassocks, but Mrs Barrett thought that it would be a nice idea to make a bridal hassock with the particular intention of depicting the church.

“It is one of the best I have seen” the newly inducted vicar of the parishes of Middleton and East Winch, the Rev. Paul Bell, told me.

(Webmasters note. The bridal hassock remains in the church – though some small amount of damage caused by mice has had to be repaired)