Rev. Ernest Geldart's Festal Frontal, c. 1900
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Rev. Ernest Geldart's Festal Frontal c. 1900
November 25, 2021
The festal frontal designed by Reverend Ernest Geldart around the turn of the twentieth century is the finest altar frontal in the Cathedral collections today. Its restoration by the Rochester Cathedral Guild of Embroiderers required around 3,000 hours over 10 years.
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.
A design of heraldic roses worked on a white silk ground in silks and gold thread, interwoven with foliage, with six IHS monograms set in shields. Blue orphreys on either end with embroidered Cathedral Arms. A silk tassel fringe along the bottom.
After 100 years, time had taken its toll on the Frontal and in 1999 Canon 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.
It is estimated the entire project required some 3,000 hours of work over 20 years, with much research on fabrics, techniques and historical sources. The help and assistance of the Vergers and others is much appreciated. The project was funded by the Cathedral.
Guild of Embroiderers
The Guild of Embroiderers are proud to care for over 100 ecclesiastical vestments and textile treasures.
