Katherine Cowell, who lives in Trentham, was inspired by an engraving at Southwark Cathedral at a significant time in her life. So much so that she created her own replica artwork which hangs in her home as a reminder of the strength that inscription gave her. Read Katherine's story...I was looking around Southwark Cathedral and saw this black slate, on it was written 'binden or unbidden God is present'. I suppose it didn't particularly inspire me at the time although it caught my eye and I remembered it. A stressful time | | Katherine's artwork |
Earlier that day I had spoken to my husband who said he'd been watching television the night before and had experienced double-vision. That weekend he was admitted to hospital with what doctors thought was a brain tumour. The next five weeks were really stressful and there were some occasions where we thought he may be terminally ill. In the course of all of this going on, as a Christian I felt that I should be this kind of stalwart, full of faith sort of person, when actually I just felt awful. Bidden or unbiddenIt was then the artwork in Southwark Cathedral came back to me and I realised it was probably fairly normal to be feeling how I was and that I have an agreement with God and he has an agreement with me - even if I wasn't feeling particularly spiritual, God was still there. That 'bidden or unbidden God is present' - that felt quite moving and it still does. Made to rememberSo then one of the things that I did was to sit down and make something for myself to remind me of those words. I have kept the piece I made and have it up most of the time. I made it from sugar paper and bits of hand-made paper which I wrote on with a felt pen. It's not stunning but it holds a lot of meaning. | 
