The Parish Frieze

The Parish Frieze was unveiled by Bishop Norman of Richborough at St. Peter's Church in Folkestone on 20th June 2019. The new artwork, which was featured in The Times two days later, emerged following a year of preparations by Strange Cargo who were commission to create a new work involving local people to celebrate St. Peter's Church 150th anniversary. The entire parish was notified of the opportunity to get involved and over 100 people, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and a broad cross section of the local community, of all ages, came forward to be immortalised in the artwork.

Everyone involved assembled at the church hall to have their image captured during the annual Blessing of the Fisheries event in summer 2018.

Each persons likeness was 3D digitally printed for the artwork and has been installed in the entrance way to St. Peter's, which is Folkestone's dedicated fisherman's church.

The two parallel rows of figures are a snapshot of the entire Parish and include congregation, clergy, school children, residents, workers and many more. Two larger figures dominate either end of the room; these are The Fisher of Men and the Star of the Sea, whose images were modeled by fisherman Harry Mardle and Kayleigh Collins, who is the daughter of a fisherman; both are descended from generations of local fishermen.

The artwork was commissioned by St. Peter's Parochial Church Council and funded through a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund and the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.

Photographs by Matt Rowe.