Last month’s meeting was a talk given by Jane Dew on William Morris - a British textile designer, poet, artist, writer and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production. Morris was born in Walthamstow, Essex in 1834, to a wealthy middle-class family engaged in mining copper and arsenic in Cornwall. As a young lad, he took an interest in fishing with his brothers as well as gardening and exploring the forest, where he was fascinated both by the Iron Age earthworks. He also took rides through the Essex countryside on his pony, and visited the various churches and cathedrals throughout the country, marvelling at their architecture. His father took him on visits outside of the county, Canterbury Cathedral, the Chiswick Horticultural Gardens, and to the Isle of Wight.In 1852, Morris entered Exeter College at Oxford University to study Classics and Theology where he met undergraduate Edward Burne-Jones, who became his lifelong friend and collaborator. Through Burne-Jones, Morris joined a group of undergraduates from Birmingham who were studying at Pembroke College:- William Fulford, Richard Watson Dixon, Charles Faulkner, and Cormell Price, known as the ‘Birmingham Set’. Like Morris, the Set were fans of the poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and the plays of William Shakespeare.Webb and Morris designed Red House in Kent where Morris lived with his new wife, Jane Burden, from 1859 to 1865, before moving to Bloomsbury, central London. In 1861, Morris founded the Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. decorative arts firm with Burne-Jones, Rossetti, Webb, and others, which became highly fashionable and much in demand. The firm profoundly influenced interior decoration throughout the Victorian period, with Morris designing tapestries, wallpaper (Trellis), fabrics, furniture, and stained glass windows.Morris believed that he had Welsh blood from his Grandmother and he spent a week with Webb, visiting towns including Machynlleth, Beddgelert, Bala, Dolgellau and Towyn. In 1875, he assumed total control of the company, which was renamed Morris & Co. Now in complete control of the Firm, Morris took an increased interest in the process of textile dyeing and entered into a co-operative agreement with Thomas Wardle, a silk dyer who operated the Hencroft Works in Leek. As a result, Morris would spend time with Wardle at his home on various occasions between summer 1875 and spring 1878 (Wightwick Manor near Wolverhampton is a notable example of the Morris & Co. style, with lots of original wallpapers, fabrics, carpets, and furniture). William Morris suffered ill heath, and died in 1896, leaving two daughters.The 2nd April meeting, starting at 8.00 pm is ‘Curious discoveries on the Staffordshire map’ by Shaun FarrellyJohn Egginton
This term we have been learning about the life of Moses with pupils from Weston and Hixon schools. The Open the Book team visit and lead these special assemblies twice per month. If you would like to know more about our “work” (actually it is great fun!) please send an email to Caroline at carolinehighland311@outlook.com.
Perhaps a lost credit card surprisingly turned up in your other bag. Or a lump you found turned out to be benign needing no treatment. Or perhaps you were made redundant, and you then found another job which paid more and was more rewarding!If you have ever experienced going from utter gloom to happiness and relief, you will perhaps feel something like the disciples felt on that first Easter day. Imagine you were there! You had followed this wonderful teacher for three years, started to believe that he was the Son of God, only to see all your hopes crumble when he was put to death on the cross. But three days later, your friend Mary came back and said Jesus had come back to life. Then a few days later, there he was in your room, alive and eating with you!Jesus has given the world what it really needs-hope!However, not all credit cards are found, tumors benign and not all redundancy leads to better jobs. Sometimes the worst does seem to happen. But love never ever leaves us.God loved us so much that he sent His only Son to die for us and to rise again, so our sins would be forgiven, and we would survive death, passing into eternal life. That may seem a bit like “Jam tomorrow”- how does that help now? But the thing about that Easter miracle is that after the resurrection, Jesus was alive and unlike Lazarus he never had to die again. So, this means that Jesus is alive NOW! He is here with us, loving us no matter what we do, and supporting us even in the worst time. If you look and listen, you will find His love, in the spring flowers, in the kind words of a friend, in the laughter of children.Research was recently carried out on the art of happiness. Apparently, you must practice being happy! I would suggest that feeling love is the secret of happiness, and Jesus’ love is always there, surrounding us and supporting us.So, this April, lean into Love. Enjoy the happiness of that first Easter Day and spread it all around!
Our church is now open to visitors on: Monday evenings (except Bank Holidays) 6-30pm until 9-00pmTuesdays (except Bank Holiday weeks) 9-30am until 12-00 noonSaturdays 10-00am until 12-30pm until 23rd March There will also be additional four Easter family fun days on Friday 29th March 11-00am until 3-00pm, Saturday 30th March 10-00am until 1-30pm, Friday 5th April 11-00am until 3-00pm, Saturday 6th April 10-00am until 1-30pm, Saturday 13th, 20th and 27th 2-00pm until 4-30pm.If you would like to join our team of Volunteers please contact Elizabeth Jarrett for more details: elizabethjjarrett@gmail.com or 07534915068
