Biblical artwork thought to be the largest textile project in 600 years goes on display in Yorkshire

Anna Riley
Sun, 12 Apr 2026 05:00:02 +0000

The largest textile artwork in 600 years is on display at Beverley Minster in East Yorkshire, and it tells the story of the bible.

The exhibition is called Threads through the Bible and depicts the Christian creation story and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

It is crafted from layers of silk, hand-dyed fabric, metallic leathers and gold leaf and 30 of the panels, made up of more than 8 million stitches, can be viewed at Beverley Minster.

Threads Through Creation is displayed on twelve textile panels, re-telling the story of Creation from the book of Genesis in a vibrant, contemporary way.

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Threads Through the Cross is displayed on eighteen textile panels, portraying the life of Jesus, his crucifixion, resurrection, and Pentecost.

Reverend Eileen Wallis, Mission Priest at Beverley Minster, told GB News: "Some people have been so moved and for us as a church, wanting to tell the story of Jesus and the story of the goodness of God, that's the most exciting thing for us, because art just reaches people where words can't.

"Creation depicts the story of how God created the world and it ends when Adam and Eve leave the Garden of Eden.

"The Cross follows the life of Jesus - it starts with Mary and the enunciation with the Angel and it ends with his death.

"The very last one is Pentecost where he pours out his spirit on all his people, and we're all part of that story because we're still living in the next chapter of the bible, which is the Acts."

Featuring three sequences: Threads through Creation, Threads through the Cross and Threads through Revelation, the work is claimed to be one of the largest textile projects ever created by a single artist - Jacqui Parkinson.

Ten years in the making and composed of more than 25 million stitches across 44 panels at 3m high, it celebrates artistic devotion with the timeless message of the Bible.

Together, the panels stretch over 80 metres, weaving scenes of beauty, faith and hope with colour and creativity.

Christian faith is fundamental to Jacqui Parkinson's work.

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She goes through a unique process when creating her art, starting with old bed sheets as a base, using a canvas that holds memories of happiness and sorrow.

"When you ask her why bed sheets? She says, bed sheets are the things that wrap around you in birth, but they also are there at death," said Reverend Eileen Wallis, Mission Priest at Beverley Minster.

"So that was significant to her, and each one has been sewn with one sewing machine. She only had it serviced once and it's taken over 12 years to do the whole exhibition."

Threads is available to all, regardless of faith or background, and can be viewed at Beverley Minster for free until April 22.

Beverley Minster hopes the display will bring the whole community of Beverley together with craft, music and storytelling events being held alongside the exhibition.

Visitors at the Minster told GB News that they were impressed by the work.

Rob had made the trip from York and said: "Every single panel is absolutely gorgeous and trying to take photographs of the panels don't do them justice, frankly."

Barbara Mann struggled to explain just what the exhibition had evoked in her and said: "It's hard for me to put it into words. It's beautiful, skillful, thought provoking. It's nothing like I've ever seen before."

Nick Partridge had visited from down South and was impressed with the level of detail.

He said: "It's fantastic that somebody could undertake something like this."

Heather Fenwick, looked around the exhibition with her husband. She said: "We do read the Bible, but this is in one smooth journey and it is wonderful."

Andy Johnstone, was touched by the display and said: "Although it's centuries after, it's not out of place. I think it's a triumph."

The art will continue its tour of churches across the country, telling one of the greatest stories ever stitched.

The premiere was at Liverpool Cathedral in January 2025 and Threads through the Bible is currently touring a further ten venues, up to the end of 2027.

Find out when it will be at a church near you HERE.