Fancy doing something a bit different this summer? Something hands-on, heartwarming, and totally free? From Monday 5th May 2025 to Monday 15th September 2025, Bradford Cathedral is inviting everyone—yes, everyone—to help create a massive tapestry that tells the story of Bradford, its people, and its past. No experience needed. Just turn up, have a go, and add your stitch to something truly special.
A giant loom, a sea of stories, and a lot of wool
So here’s what’s happening: a loom—that’s the big wooden frame used for weaving—will be set up right inside the West End of the Cathedral. Anyone can come along and weave a little piece of cloth to add to the final tapestry, which will be unveiled in early 2026.
And don’t worry if you’ve never touched a loom before. There’ll be helpful instructions, including in different languages, so you don’t feel lost. It’s meant for everyone—kids, grandparents, complete newbies, and textile lovers alike.
Weaving your voice into the tapestry too
It’s not just your hands that are needed—it’s your voice too. Alongside the loom, they’re building a ‘sound tapestry’, which is a fancy way of saying a big audio collection of real people telling real stories. Maybe you’ve got a memory of working in Bradford’s old wool mills. Maybe your nan did. Or maybe you just want to say what Bradford means to you.
All of it matters.
You can record your story, share your accent, or just pop by to listen to others. Community groups are welcome to take part too, so if you’re in a choir, a crafting club or a scout group, you’re all invited.
Got some stitching skills? They need you
If you’ve got experience in embroidery, sewing, or anything textile-related, there’s another layer to the project. A handful of volunteers will work closely with the project’s visual artist, Shaeron Caton-Rose, to help shape the more detailed bits of the tapestry. So if you’re looking for a way to put your skills to good use, this is it.
Launch party and other fun stuff
Circle Saturday 10th May 2025 at 3pm on your calendar. That’s the big public launch, and everyone’s invited. Expect a bit of celebration, maybe some live demonstrations, and the kind of local buzz that makes you proud to live here.
There’ll also be:
- Educational tours digging into Bradford’s wool-making past
- Live weaving demos to show how it’s done
- Community events and discussions around art, identity and history
Wool that stays close to home
This whole thing isn’t just symbolic—it’s rooted in real, local effort. The wool you’ll be weaving with has been:
- Sourced and spun by the Bradford Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
- Scoured by Haworth Scouring
- Dyed using locally grown plants
So even the materials are part of the story.
A stone-cold finishing touch
Once the tapestry’s complete, it’ll go on show at the Cathedral starting St. Blaise Day, Tuesday 3rd February 2026. And here’s the poetic bit—the West Riding Stone Carving Association will make special stone weights to hold it in place. Each one will have words or phrases taken from the stories people shared.
It’s a beautiful way to make sure every voice carries weight—literally.
Quotes from the people behind the project
The Revd Canon Ned Lunn, who’s leading the project, put it like this:
“This project is about more than preserving history; it’s about bringing people together. By taking part, you will help safeguard an at-risk heritage craft, learn new skills, and build lasting connections with one of Bradford’s most significant cultural spaces.”
A few quick bits you might want to know
- 📅 Runs from: 5 May – 15 September 2025
- 🎉 Launch event: Saturday 10 May 2025 at 3pm
- 📍 Where: Bradford Cathedral, West End
- 📢 RSVP and event link: bradfordcathedral.churchsuite.com/events/zhroncne
- 🧵 Want to help or share a story? Email Revd Canon Ned Lunn at [email protected]
Whether you drop by once or keep coming back, every thread counts. It’s not just a tapestry—it’s a living, breathing memory blanket made by the people of Bradford. And you can be part of it.
