Chance to See Historic Opus Anglicanum Embroidery

Lichfield Cathedral’s volunteer embroiderers are proudly taking part in a major national textile masterpiece: The Circle of Life, an ambitious Opus Anglicanum embroidery project sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Upholders, one of London’s ancient Livery Companies dating back to 1360. The artwork, over two metres in diameter and designed by internationally recognised iconographer Aidan Hart, will be the most significant piece of Opus Anglicanum embroidery created since the Fishmonger Pall of 1530.

The Cathedral’s embroiderers are contributing one of twelve embroidered segments, created in collaboration with other English cathedrals and Fine Cell Work. Using traditional techniques and intricate needlework skills, production began in April 2025. Once assembled, the completed work will be displayed at the Guildhall in the City of London to mark the 400th anniversary of the Upholders’ Royal Charter, before touring participating cathedrals across the country.

See the Work in Progress – 17 February, 2–4pm

On Tuesday 17 February, visitors are invited to meet the Lichfield Cathedral Embroiderers and representatives from the Upholder’s Guild in the Cathedral from 2–4pm for a rare chance to:

• Watch demonstrations of ancient medieval embroidery techniques
• See work in progress on Lichfield’s contribution
• Learn about the history and significance of Opus Anglicanum
• Ask the team questions about this nationally important collaborative artwork

The Lichfield panel (an outline of the Cathedral worked onto blue fabric) will be collected on 17 February by the Worshipful Company of Upholders. The second piece will then be taken to the Royal School of Needlework in March, where it will be joined with the eleven other panels from cathedrals across the country.

Lyn Stephenson, representing the Lichfield Cathedral Embroiderers, said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to contribute to such a significant national project. As a team of seven volunteer embroiderers, we have loved the opportunity to revive medieval needlework techniques, learn new skills, and work together on this beautiful piece. Being part of a collaboration with cathedrals across the country is something very special, and we warmly invite visitors to come along on 17 February to talk with us, see our progress, and discover more about this remarkable artwork.”

The Cathedral extends a warm welcome to all who wish to witness this extraordinary project as it nears completion and prepare to send its panel to join the others in London.

About The Circle of Life Project

Circle of Life – The Upholders’ Celebratory Project and Luncheon to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of our Company receiving its Royal Charter in 1626

The Worshipful Company of Upholders recorded its origin as 1360 and 266 years later we obtained our Royal Charter from King Charles I in 1626.  This was an important milestone as we were then commanded to ensure the quality of upholstery materials sold in the City of London and foster the education of our trades.

We plan to celebrate our impressive heritage by making something that is truly spectacular and will embrace our Upholstery, Funeral Directing and Soft Furnishing skills.  Some Livery Companies have funeral palls sometimes known as coffin covers.  Many are works of art in their own right, some are 500 years old.

Our 400th Charter Anniversary project is to create our own beautiful pall, engaging the expertise of the Royal School of Needlework, international iconographer Aidan Hart (who designed the Royal Anointing Screen used by Charles III at his coronation), twelve English Cathedrals and the skills of prisoners working with the charity Fine Cell Work.  It will involve using a rare and exquisite embroidery stitch called Opus Anglicanum which originated from the medieval period when England was at the height of its embroidery skills and embraces the use of gold and silver wirework.  This project will reintroduce this all but lost stitch.

The Circle of Life project will have two components: Firstly, to create a Circle of Life, literally a circular piece of luxury wool cloth over 2.3m in diameter with an outer circle of twelve detachable panels each depicting scenes from the Upholders’ history including the making of mattresses, the Great Fire of London and a funeral cortege.  Each panel will be made by a different Cathedral team who will also create a silhouette of their own Cathedral as part of an inner circle within the design.  The design will also include the Upholders’ crest, two sparvers (the tent-like symbols on our crest) and two crosses to be undertaken by Fine Cell Work. Fine Cell Work

Secondly, to create a Funeral Pall. An additional luxury wool cloth will be created to cover a coffin at a funeral, to which some of the twelve panels, the crosses, crest and sparvers can be attached.  

Once complete, the Circle of Life, which will be housed in a beautiful circular timber frame complete with museum quality glass, will go on tour for three years to each participating Cathedral.  This will give the wider public a chance to see the amazing work of each Cathedral embroidery team. 

The Royal School of Needlework will be managing the project, and each Cathedral will have a team leader who is skilled in the Opus Anglicanum stitch.  A whole team will be assembled involving over eighty stitchers nationwide who will learn the complicated and nearly lost skill of creating this stitch.