A Handbook for Altar Guilds by Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille

A Handbook for Altar Guilds by Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille:

Reverence is a tender, affectionate regard for holy things. Reverence is placed first because it is our greatest need in the preparation of our work in the sanctuary. Whatever else we lack, reverence we must have. This spirit of reverence lies underneath and behind all our work in the sanctuary and in the chancel.

Why do we wish to make our Church beautiful? Because God our heavenly Father is there. The Tabernacle in the wilderness, though scarcely more than a tent, was made glorious within and without because it was the sanctuary of God on earth. Our dear Church here is the Sanctuary of God, where we meet Him and lean on Him. And having such an honoured guest we want to make the place of His feet beautiful. (Mackrille, p. 4)

Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille

Many involved in Ecclesiastical Sewing and the making of church vestments know the name of Lucy Vaughn Hayden Mackrille well as the founder of the Washington Cathedral Altar Guild. Her book entitled Church Embroidery and Church Vestments is a valuable resource for seamstresses, providing detailed instructions for making many vestments. Her book is frequently referenced in my blog, as well as in my work. The book is a favorite. The photos, while taken in black and white, are clear. The instructions, while written with a certain level of assumed knowledge, provide more detail than many other texts on the subject of making church vestments.

Discovery of Her New Book

For those who follow this blog regularly, you know that I have acquired a sizable library on topics relating to church vestments, church embroidery, designs, whitework, and linens. There is an ongoing search for books relating to these topics. Over the years, I have searched by Lucy Mackrille’s name, and by the title of her book, thinking and wondering if there might be the slimmest of chance that another title exists.  Almost having given up on the possibility, a few weeks ago, the unexpected happened. When a link for Lucy Mackrille’s name was selected, a new title appeared, which resulted in one of those moments where the tendency is to let out a shout, “I can’t believe this! A new book by Lucy!” But then I quickly remembered the sleeping members of my family and contained the joy and excitement. An order was quickly dispatched, and the wait began.

The book arrived and is typical Lucy in style, which makes for a delightful read.

Intended as a reference manual for members of an altar guild, this small book begins with albs and goes through weddings, touching on each topic with a paragraph or so of information. Many items of interest are included:

The Fair Linen: ……Linen has been used to cover the Altar at the Clelbration of Holy Communion from primitive times……………Fair does not only mean clean, but refers also to the quality of the cloth……….Hence we say that a “Fair Linen Cloth” does not mean only a plain, clean linen cloth, but one that has been made beautiful for its special purpose….The embroidery should not be raise or padded, but be perfectly flat, that the Chalice my not tipped over when coming in contact with heavy embroidery. (Mackrille, p. 11-2)

Historical Transition

The discussion focuses on instructions regarding color use and changes in the color ritual used at the Washington Cathedral. Miss Mackrille notes that the Cathedral originally followed the Ancient color use of red, white, and blue, but eventually adopted the Roman Color use. One interesting note is that the color for funerals is blue, which is a very dark blue, like the color of the American Flag. Blue is also the color noted for use during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Maundy Thursday was white, and Good Friday was black.

George Frederick Bodley, along with Henry Vaughn were the architects commissioned to build the Cathedral. The central photo in Miss Mackrille’s book shows the high altar draped with a chalice veil embroidered with a design reminiscent of George Frederick Bodley’s work.

This rare little gem, A Handbook for Altar Guilds, while difficult to find, contains useful information for anyone interested in church altar guilds.  It reveals a different side of the author in the various narratives on the duties of the church to support the work of the altar guild. That frustration is often felt in churches today when congregations fail to support the necessary work of keeping the Lord’s altar beautiful for the worship service.

Solo Dei Gloria

Be sure to visit our online store front Ecclesiastical Sewing where you may shop for Liturgical Fabrics, altar linen fabrics, church vestment-making patterns, liturgical machine embroidery designs,  church vestment trims and notions and so much more. You may also find us on  Ecclesiastical Sewing on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of the page on our online store front and receive a free copy of our Small Linens Booklet as our way of saying thank you for following along.

References:

Mackrille, L. (date unkown) A Handbook for Altar Guilds. Washington, DC: The Cathedral Studio.

Mackrille, L. (1939) Church Embroidery and Church Vestments. Baltimore: The Monumental Printing Company.

Hall, M. (2014). George Frederick Bodley and the Later Gothic Revival in Britain and America. Newhaven & London: Yale University Press.

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