TEXTILE CONSERVATION
Church textiles are among the most demanding of the contents of a parish church, in terms of upkeep and long-term preservation. They can imperceptibly move from pristine condition to a faded and shabby state, while vestments, like secular clothes, also suffer from changes in fashion which can result in drastic alteration, inadequate storage or unthinking disposal.
In 2001, the Church Buildings Council published a book called A Stitch in Time which gives practical advice about the care and conservation of textiles in churches. It provides guidance on basic housekeeping, good storage and when professional help is needed. An excerpt from the book is available here in PDF format (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader): A Stitch in Time (excerpt).
If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, it is available for £2.50 plus p&p from Church House Bookshop.
