Jacquie Binns

Jacquie writes on her web site that both her parents were Fine Art teachers, which influenced considerably her choice of career. Jacquie Binns first went to the Manchester Polytechnic Fine Art Foundation Course, where she was taught by Dave Pearson. She went on to study Fine Art Textiles at the world famous Goldsmiths Art College. She studied under Christine Risley, who was the first student of Constance Howard, the founder of the Textiles Course. Jacquie has enjoyed over 20 years of working in ecclesiastical embroidery and has work on display through out the world, with notable pieces in the United States and Australia and in many private art collections.

Exhibitions:
St James, Piccadilly, London.
St Paul's Cathedral, London. A group exhibition with Beryl Dean.
The De Morgan Centre, London.
St Albans Abbey.
Wimpole Hall.
And numerous museums, cathedrals and churches

Visit Jacquie's web site : www.jacquiebinns.com/
 

The Christ Church Altar Frontals

WHITE
Christ in Glory
White is the colour for the major festivals of the Church - Christmas, Easter, Trinity and All Saints. This was the original frontal made for us by Jacquie.

RED
The Red set is in memory of Madge Cornford. We use red for Palm Sunday and the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, for the season of Pentecost and for the three Sundays before Advent; also for the commemoration of Apostles and Martyrs. The Altar Frontal shows the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, in flight within a circle of light with flames all around; the edge of the circle is broken up by the flames. The cross behind the dove is subtle and represents the palm cross; rays emanate from the cross and the dove. On the Pulpit Fall the alpha and omega are still and strong surrounded by the swirl of unruly flames. The flames form ‘branches’ as though they have come from a larger tree. There is order and chaos in the static lettering and the flicker of flames. With the Lectern Fall there are three different coloured flames, representing the Trinity intertwined. On the Veil the angel of presence - the angel of the Lord - emerges from fire to emit the Word of God, with rays of light all around.

PURPLE
The Purple set is in memory of Jane and Jim Fish.
Purple is the liturgical colour used for the seasons of Advent and Lent, and for funerals. On the Altar Frontal there is a Crown of Thorns surrounding the empty cross. The empty cross symbolizes the resurrection. Nails appear in the rays of light emanating from the cross. This light breaks out of the circle, showing that the light of Christ is stronger than any bonds. The Pulpit Fall depicts the 'Chi-Rho' (the first two letters of Christ - in Greek), continuing the theme of light bursting out of the darkness, rays of light emanate from the centre. On the Lectern Fall there are two simple nails embroidered on the ends of this fall, forming a cross. On the Veil there is a small crown of thorns, echoing the altar frontal, with a circle of light and a cross rising above and out of the circle.

GREEN
The green set is in memory of Doris Ware. Green is the colour used at all other times, i.e. between 2 February and Ash Wednesday, and after Trinity Sunday until All Saints. The Altar Frontal depicts a circular world in blue and gold encircled by a garland of ‘fruits of the earth’, symbolising the seasons: spring, daffodils; summer, roses; autumn, wheat; winter, holly. These are all interwoven and connected by a vine in fruit. Colour is prominent in this work as the green liturgical season spans the year intermittently and needs to be relevant to each season. On the Pulpit Fall there is a composition of plants relating to the altar frontal, along with a shell, symbolic of pilgrimage. The Lectern Fall continues the theme of the vine in fruit. The Veil depicts a bushel of wheat. The wheat and the vine represent the bread and the wine - the Holy Sacrament.