Guild Mark for Dorchester Abbey Choir Stalls

This week we heard the good news that the Dorchester Abbey choir stalls have been awarded the prestigious, bespoke Guild Mark by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, which represents Britain’s Furniture Industry. The award is given by a nine-person jury of the country’s top designers and craftsmen and is judged on the basis of excellence in design, materials, craftsmanship and function.

As can be seen from the images we also installed the clergy seating to complement the choir stalls this week.

Philip with the choir stalls and one of the clergy chairs and desks

One of the clergy seats and desks in front of the choirs stalls.

James actually working on the clergy desk: cutting out the cross in the side panel

John Piper and the Church at Dorchester Abbey

See our recently installed new choir stalls and pay a visit to see the John Piper and the Church exhibition, which is taking place at Dorchester Abbey 21 April - 10 June

You can see our choir stalls in the following youtube clip about the John Piper exhibition when at the beginning the Canon and later the Chair of Dorchester Abbey chose to be filmed beside them: click here please.  Please click the Like button at the end of the film

Dorchester Abbey work in progress 3

Steve Salt cutting joints for gothic lattice detail

Detail of lattice cross-over joint

Steve Salt fitting gothic lattice to a front panel

Dorchester Abbey Choir Stalls - Work in Progress 2

More images of work in progress for Dorchester Abbey Choir Stalls (see also an earlier blog post in December).

Preparing the gothic lattice grooves for the front panels

Frames for the front panels    

Partly assembled front panel

Tenoned legs for the benches    

Tenoned leg for a bench    

Assembling a bench    

Three assembled benches