Needlepoint Kneelers These gifts are given in loving memory and to the glory of God

The Altar Rail Needlepoint Kneelers St. Paul's Episcopal Church Lee's Summit, MO In the spring of l978, six months after Fr. Bob Newyear arrived at St. Paul' s, the parish began planning Needlepoint Kneelers. Mrs. Clare Fogerty and Mrs. Esther Morse, members of St. Paul's and lifetime Episcopalians, organized a group of interested parishioners to look at kneelers made in other Episcopal Churches in Kansas City. They researched what others had done and came up with a plan. Bug Linscott, also a parishioner and lifetime Episcopalian, plotted points and measured carefully using his garage floor, a fishing line and a little simple geometry, giving us a perfect pattern for each kneeler. Joanie Sherman of Kansas City conceived the design after talking to the initial group. They decided to use flowers in keeping with the Victorian mood of the church and to repeat the oak leaf found in the stained glass. In October of 1979, the stitching began. By Easter of 1981, a year and a half later, the last piece was finished. Each canvas was blocked and sent to the upholsterer, Stan Johnson of Kansas City. The kneelers were dedicated and first used on Sunday, June 14, 1981, Trinity Sunday, a little more than two years after the planning began. Placed in position at the Altar rail, kneelers from left to right include flowers and plants mentioned in the Bible. They represent the Old Testament on the left and the New Testament on the right.   NOTE: Click on images to increase size
	NOTE: Click on image to increase size A Left
	B Left
	C Left
	D Center
	E Right
	F Right
	G Right

Apricot - represents the apple, the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.	Fig  - represents the tree of knowledge  "A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive and honey." Deuteronomy 8:8
Cypress -  wood used in Noah's Ark     "	Olive - a dove returns to Noah with an olive branch - a symbol of peace.
Papyrus  - reminiscent of the bushes where Moses was found as a babe	Pomegranate - a symbol for the land of Canaan
Bitter Herb - (also dandelion) represents the Hebrews in wilderness; part of Passover meal.	Acacia  - wood used in the Ark of the Covenant where the 10 commandments were kept
Cedars of Lebanon - used by Soloman in his building; a symbol of strength, splendor and glory.	Oak - in Hebrew, oak is the equivalent of God
Spice - an important part of the wealth of the ancient world; found in Solomon's gardens - II Chr. 9:9	Narcissus- "The desert shall bloom like a rose" refers to a narcissus - Isa. 35:l
Wheat - the symbol for bread, he body of Christ	Book & Sword - symbols of  St. Paul.
Grapes - the symbol for wine - the blood of Christ	Iris - symbol of the Virgin Mary
Star of Bethlehem- symbol of the birth  of  Christ.	Frankincense - a gift of the Maji
Myrhh- a gift of the Maji	Lilies of the Valley- a symbol of the Advent of Christ
Dill- refers to the Pharisee  tithe in Matt. 22:23	Mustard - refers to the parable of the mustard seed
Carob- refers to the parable of the prodigal son	Palm - Palm Sunday
Dogwood - symbol of the crucifixion	Jerusalem Thorn - Crown of Thorns
Flax - used to make the linen Christ was wrapped in when he was taken from the cross.	Click photo to enlarge view
Prie Dieu - Morning Glories	Prie Dieu - Morning Glories   Morning Glories - represent Morning Prayer and the beauty of morning.
The Kneelers are a gift from: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Biggs Mr. and Mrs. Howard Blum Mrs. Annetta Campbell Mrs. Clare Fogerty Brig. Genrl and Mrs. John Gulledge Miss Eleanor Halley Fr. and Mrs. Robert Newyear	The Kneelers are a gift from: Mr. and Mrs. John Payne Mrs. Lola Potts Miss Gala Sampliner Mrs. Alberta Schnitzler Mrs. Alvina Templin Mr. and Mrs. J.T. VanFleet Miss Dorothy Williamson
The Kneelers were stitched by: Miss Lynn Barnes Mrs. Mildred Blum Mrs. Susan Chinnery Mrs. Linda Edwards Mrs. Jackie Gilpin  Miss Michelle Johnson Mrs. Jane Gulledge Leadley Mrs. Sue Linscott Mrs. Marjorie Winquist	NOTE: Click on image to increase size
1884 Osage Plains Gothic Church. Frame on field stone foundation, ceilings and walls of recycled Civil War boxcar wood.  "We still use it everyday and twice on Sunday." Link for history is here:	Visit our Historic Church with the Red Doors on the Walking Tour of Lee's Summit, MO   Enter  Here

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