Seafarers’ Prayer Space at St George's Church

One Saturday in Autumn, John and Karen visited the PCC on a mission to remove and repurpose old church pews. John was taken by the detail of the pew end 'cut outs' .....such intricate designs full of church history. The vision for St George's was to create a reflective, quiet space, for anyone to rest a while, pray, light a candle or simply feel peaceful in honour of all our hard-working seafarers.

The Seafarers’ Prayer Space began to evolve, rope knotting would feature, steelwork, an octagonal altar, a 'Noah's Ark 'themed base and a beautiful crucifix.

The Reverend Astrid is the Rector of the Benefice of Pill, Portbury and Easton-in-Gordano, which includes St George's Church in Easton-in-Gordano, in North Somerset.

Rev’d Astrid is from the Netherlands, and her family still lives there.  She has been noted for her engagement with the local community, including winning an adult penalty shoot-out competition at a local event to the "pleasure and amazement of her family in Holland!". She has also been involved with local charities, such as the Morgan's Charity Parish Fund.

Rev'd Astrid has an amazing team of willing volunteers on The PCC, from retired headteachers, woodworkers and grenadier soldiers. Many of whom were involved in this project.

John and Karen were commissioned to design an octagonal altar, John proposed his optical illusion swirls of steel as a sturdy altar base, and worked tirelessly on repurposing the wood, retaining original history and witness marks, he cut, sanded and woodworked this bespoke piece of beauty with the 'piece de la resistance' being a resin mix that he poured into to colour in the cutouts to replicate the velvet cushion hues of ruby! Pure genius...Then for the crucifix and octagonal base.

On Sunday, 30 November, the first Sunday of Advent, John and Karen attended the 10.30 am blessing and met Fr. Jeremy Hellier, the Port Chaplain for the Mission to Seafarers at the Royal Portbury and Avonmouth Docks. He arrived perfectly dressed with his hi-vis jacket and walkie-talkie nearby! He serves as the chaplain for the two docks, with support from organisations like the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and has a wonderful connection with the parish of St George's.

Some of the eagle-eyed amongst you may recognise a retired woodwork teacher from St Katherines School in Pill, he was pleased to shake hands with John, his newly acquainted woodworker and fellow craftsman..... as the Icarus Steel Votive candle holder John created has become a collaborative piece, standing on the firm foundations of a beautifully crafted Noah's Ark, using reclaimed pew wood.

 If you would like to see more of John’s commissions, please visit the Bespoke Projects page of our website.

To commission John to craft a piece of church pew history into something for you and your home, please Contact Us.