*Colour* Light * Connection*

The new East window is a beautiful addition to Chadkirk Chapel.
Designed to enhance the sense of place and resonate with the landscape of Chadkirk, it allows light in and views out to the wooded hillside beyond the Chapel.

Yesterday the window was unveiled at the Chadkirk Festival 2013.
The photographs below show the team of local craftsmen working to install the window.

Chadkirk Chapel: Work in progress.
On Monday 22 July, work on the new stained glass window and preparation for the well dressing. Photo: Artemisia

Installation of the first window panes of the East Window, Chadkirk Chapel.
22 July 2013
Photo: Artemisia

Steve and Rob put the finishing touches to the new window.
Photo: Artemisia.

Steve secures the work with putty.
Photo: Artemisia.

The cross of St. Chad, East Window, Chadkirk Chapel.
Installation completed July 2013.
Photo: Artemisia

Steve adds the finishing touches.
Photo: Artemisia

The team of craftsmen towards the end of a long day’s work.
Photo: Artemisia

Dancing through…Chadkirk Festival 2013

Pulses of rain passed over the country park at midday and later at about 3pm.
Undeterred, the visitors came along and enjoyed spells of warm sunshine after the showers.

There was plenty to see in Chadkirk Chapel. In addition to the craft stalls, the East Window unveiled attracted much attention and comments of delight from visitors.

In the Walled Garden, early visitors snapped up healthy plants at bargain prices. Later there was the chance to enjoy (is that the right word?) a Spider Hunt.

Around the lawned area, an interesting mix – birds of prey, balloon artistry, crafts and local heritage – and throughout the afternoon demonstrations and dancing.

Dancing through the raindrops.
Photo: Artemisia

Bell ringers performing in Chadkirk Chapel.
Photo: Artemisia

Picnic time at Chadkirk Festival 2013.
Photo: Artemisia

Early visitors snap up healthy plants at bargain prices.
Photo: Artemisia

Enthusiasts await the Spider Hunt.
Photo: Artemisia

Award winning balloon artists draw a large audience.
Photo: Artemisia

A satisfied customer.
Photo: Artemisia

Ki Taekwondo demonstration: people gather to watch their moves.
Photo: Artemisia

Under the fruit trees, in the Walled Garden, early visitors enjoy their Cream Teas.
Photo: Artemisia

Craftsman and daughter at the stained glass stall.
Photo: Artemisia

Austin and Arnie, Master Cabinet Makers and experts in the use of our local beeswax.
Photo: Artemisia

It’s today…

The Chadkirk Festival, today, 12 midday – 5pm.
Official opening with the unveiling of the Well Dressing.
Later: unveiling of the newly installed East Window in Chadkirk Chapel.

Walk down to Chadkirk or drive and park in Ford Field.
Admission: Adults £2, children (5-15 years) £1. Children under 5 years free.

Craft stalls in Chapel.
Refreshments: at kiosk in Chapel.
Strawberry Cream Teas (and sandwiches) at Friends of Chadkirk stall in The Walled Garden.

Entertainments on Lawn.

Hot off the press…newly installed window is unveiled

East Window unveiled.
Photo: Artemisia

Watch this space

By midday the old window is gone and the new frame is being installed.
Photo: Artemisia

Once the newly installed East Window is unveiled I will be posting photos of the window here.

Watching the craftsmen at work on Monday and hearing more about their craft added to my delight in the finished work. So while the photos are not available before Sunday, in the meantime I can share a few snippets.

The window is made from handblown glass.

It is made up of over 500 pieces of glass cut by master craftsmen in their Derbyshire workshop.

The coloured centre piece has 170 pieces, 9 beautiful colours in a stunning design.

It took 180+ hours to cut all the glass and assemble the design before transporting it from the workshop in Doveholes to install in the Chapel at Chadkirk.

Went to know more about the stained glass? Talk with Steve Parsonson of Classic Glass Studios at Chadkirk Festival 2013.

The bespoke wooden frame and moulding is hand crafted from specially seasoned oak.

The mouldings around the window echo those in the adjacent timbers in the original beams of ancient oak.

The oak is protected by beeswax sourced from the bees of Chadkirk.

Arnie, the beekeeper, collected the beeswax from our hives in The Walled Garden. He passed it to Austin, the Master Cabinet Maker who made the frame. In a nice bit of serendipity, Arnie is a Master Cabinetmaker (now retired). Both Arnie and Austin can be congratulated on their attention to detail and in making this small yet significant link between garden and chapel, past and present, life and art.

Looking to learn more about the window? Talk with the team of craftsmen on Sunday 28 July. The team will be at the unveiling and then available to chat. They have stalls on the lawn, near to the entrance for the festival site: Austin Neves, Master Cabinet Maker and Steve Parsonson, Stained Glass Artist. Together their teams have produced a beautiful addition to Chadkirk Chapel.

Watch this space.

By midday the old window is gone and the new frame is being installed.
Photo: Artemisia

Chadkirk Chapel Monday 22 July 2013

What’s going on ?

Chadkirk Chapel: Work in progress.
On Monday 22 July, work on the new stained glass window and preparation for the well dressing. Photo: Artemisia

Both the Well Dressing and the new East Window will be unveiled at the Chadkirk Festival during the afternoon on Sunday 28 July 2013.

Chadkirk Festival Sunday 28 July 2013

Attractions and demonstrations to enjoy on Sunday afternoon:

Blessing of St Chad’s Well at 12 noon opens the 17th Chadkirk Festival

Tin’stle Bells – Handbell ringing in Chadkirk Chapel

Willow Weaving – in the Walled Garden

Donkey Sanctuary – Chapel Field

Face Painting – Walled Garden

Stockport Silver Band – Chapel Yard

Water Green Morris Dancers and Musicians – English folk dancing on Lawn

Martial Arts Display – Black Belt Academy, Stockport on Lawn

Flying Demonstration – Birds of Prey, Lawn Area

Amazing Balloon Twisting Show – Lawn

Parking for visitors on Ford Field

Admission: Adults £2, children (5-15 years) £1. Children under 5 years free.

Chadkirk Festival and Well Dressing…this coming Sunday

Sunday 28 July
12 noon – 5pm

Fun for all the family

This Sunday the 17th Chadkrik Festival opens at 12 noon offering it’s usual delightful mix of the traditional and the slightly quirky.

There will be more than 40 stalls.

Some will be showing craftwork and perhaps giving you a chance to try something new. Ever tried Willow Weaving? Lesley Bardsley can show you how at her stall in the Walled Garden. Look out for it next to the Friends of Chadkirk Plant stalls.

Other stalls are staffed by enthusiasts keen to share their passions. Interested in history? Look out for the Mellor Trust and Stockport Heritage Trust stalls by the Lawn. Maybe you like animals? Then you might want to take a look at the animals from the Donkey Sanctuary in the corner of Chapel Field. Or watch the flight of the Birds of Prey. SMJ Falconry will be giving a couple of demonstrations during the afternoon. This year for the first time spider lovers can develop their interests by visiting the stall of the Arachnological Society in the Walled Garden.Love ’em or loathe them, there’ll be plenty to invite your curiosity!

Just want to play? Then there’s face painting and the chance to make your own balloon animal. Look for the face painting stall in The Walled Garden and the Balloon Show by the Lawn, next to the Falconry display. Rachel and Jason Heart are Award winning Balloon Artists, so you’ll want to see what they can do when they give their demonstrations during the afternoon.

No Chadkirk Festival would be complete without the Friends of Chadkirk Cream Tea. Scones with jam, cream and strawberries at £1-50 each. Other refreshments are also available.

Countdown to the festival…

Throughout this week the Chapel and kiosk will be open from 11 am to 3 pm.

Monday: Installation of Stained Glass Window

Tuesday: Well Dressing – making the clay mould

Wednesday: Well Dressing – decorating the clay mould

Thursday: Well Dressing – completing the decoration

Volunteers are welcome to come to Chadkirk Chapel and take part in the Well Dressing.

At 12.00 midday on Sunday 28th July the Well Dressing will be unveiled. This annual event marks the start of the Chadkirk Festival.

As an additional attraction this year the new stained glass window will be unveiled during the Festival.

East Window Project

By midday the old window is gone and the new frame is being installed.
Photo: Artemisia

Preparing the frame for the new stained glass window.
Photo: Artemisia

After measuring up, the frame is in places and the panes of glass can be inserted.
Photo: Artemisia

At the end of a good day’s work – 6.30 pm and the job is nearly finished.
Photo: Artemisia

July 2013: Diary dates

Thursday 4th July
We continue planning the Chadkirk Festival at this month’s meeting of the Friends of Chadkirk. Please join us at 7pm on Thursday evening in Chadkirk Chapel. All welcome. 

On Saturday afternoon (6th July) volunteers will be in the Walled Garden. A fine day is forecast. Some gentle weeding and generally sprucing things up, keeping the garden looking good throughout the summer. 2pm – 4pm

Later in the month there’s another gardening session on Thursday morning 18th July at 10.30am. An hour or so in pleasant surroundings and a convivial atmosphere.

Well Dressing in advance of the festival begins on Tuesday 23th July in Chadkirk Chapel.

Festival weekend: 28th July… last Sunday in July 12 – 5 pm Chadkirk Festival. More details about all that will be on offer this summer at the Festival after Thursday’s meeting.