Folk and craft traditions offer a view into a past life, the traditional use of rags in making new and beautiful things is an example of this.
In many parts of South Yorkshire carpets were made from old clothes shredded and threaded through old potato sacks. Created from humble materials these rag rugs would often be patiently made as a gift for special occasions or events. Drawing inspiration from this tradition the Cathedral is hosting the Rag Cross project.
Rag Cross is a city-wide project working together with churches and schools. During Lent cross frames will be woven with rags to form Rag Crosses. Formed around a cross structure made of willow, these threaded rags represent an individual prayer or thought.
The crosses made in schools and churches will be brought to the Cathedral before Easter and connected together to form a large Rag Cross. This will be hung in the West End of the Cathedral to form part of the Lost and Found project which is open from Easter until Pentecost Sunday on 4 June.
During Lent our small rag cross can be found in the Parker Transept. Please do come in and take some time to sit and thread some rags into the cross. There are some rags provided, or better still bring some in from home to add to the cross.
Rag Cross
Take our rags
They are no use to us
Worn out clothes and sheets and stuff
Shredded, torn and ripped apart
Threaded, weaved, connected in
Rebuilt, remade and beauty found
Take our rags
They are no use to us
Take our rags and make us beautiful
Revd Beth Keith
Pioneer Curate