Festal Altar Frontal and Super Frontal restored after 20 years work

The Festal Altar Frontal and Super Frontal

Restoration by Rochester Cathedral Embroiderers

The Reverend Ernest Geldart joined the Church in about 1880.  He was an architect, artist and designer of ecclesiastical embroidery.  It is believed that he designed the Festal Frontal in about 1900.

After 100 years, time had taken its toll on the Frontal and in 1999 Cannon John Armson convened the Rochester Cathedral Embroiderers initially to restore the Frontal to its original condition.

The group of volunteers, consisting of Westminster Abbey embroiderers, a college head of Art and Design and other experienced embroiderers created a plan.

The entire design was traced and each section numbered.

25 individual panels were removed and mounted on frames for restoration.  Original gold thread and other work was retained whenever possible.  Original colours were discovered on the back of pieces whereas the front had faded.  The IHS shields are an example where long and intricate concentration was required.  The Tudor Roses presented different problems with goldwork and the petals.

Next a length of cream Holbein silk damask was mounted on an extendable frame 1 metre by 2.5 metres.  Using our tracing and numbering, the restored embroidery and goldwork panels were stitched into position with two outline rows of couching stitches.

In October 2021, for the first time we were excited to see the finished work in place on the High Altar.

We estimate that the entire project took some 3,000 hours spread over 20 years, with much research on fabrics, techniques and historical sources.  The help and assistance of the Vergers and others is so much appreciated.

The significant cost of the project was funded by the Cathedral.