On Monday evening, 'Arts @ Banbury St Mary' was delighted to host a Community talk by the Revd Stella Fairbairn about her creative work and textiles, and to enable a large audience to hear how this led her on a journey to ordination. Stella was one of the first women to be ordained priest in the Church of England towards the end of the 20th century. Stella brought with her a selection of her beautiful embroidery, much of which she created specifically for St Mary's Church during the 1970s and 1980s, long before she was ordained. She grew up in a creative family, influenced by her mother and grandmother's work with Arts and Crafts, and after studying briefly at the Bournemouth School of Art, she went to train as a teacher at Salisbury Diocesan Training College in Salisbury Cathedral Close. In the following years she embroidered kneelers for Norwich Cathedral, St Paul's Cathedral and Exeter Cathedral. In 1970 Stella discovered the Embroiderers' Guild, and from this point onwards her prolific creativity for churches in Banbury really took off.

In response to a notice placed in St Mary's Church magazine at that time, Stella started to attend Evensong with her husband Derek at St. Mary's Church, Banbury.  She learnt from books how to design and embroider vestments for the church, and in 1973 she founded a branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild in Banbury. Over the following years she created a stunning selection of church vestments and an altar frontal, all of which she brought along to display at her talk. As she became more involved with St Mary's Church in a number of voluntary capacities, Stella started to feel a sense of calling to ministry, and in 1987 she became one of the first women deacons, and in 1994 she was ordained as one of the first women priests. She created and embroidered her own white vestments for this occasion.

In 2013 Stella graduated with a BA (Hons) Fine Art degree from De Montfort University, Leicester, after studying for it locally at Banbury and Bicester College. When Stella's husband retired, they both became guides for many years at Broughton Castle, and Stella embroidered an 'alternative guide to Broughton Castle' in mixed media at this time. Stella continued to develop her ministry at St Mary's Banbury during these years, and she led many funerals for local families. She recounted some particularly memorable funerals which she took, and recalled an occasion when she was dropped off by the funeral directors in a hearse on her way back from taking a funeral in order to steward at Upton House, much to the surprise of the onlookers!

 Stella also learned the guitar in her 50s so that she could play it in church - something which she still offers in St Mary's at the communion service on the first Sunday of the month. She also took up ballroom dancing, and passed all the amateur dancing exams for Ballroom, Latin American, Old Time  and All Round Efficiency. She now stores a shopping bag full of trophies under a bed! Stella has always been keen to acquire new skills, and in her 80s she passed her advanced driving test. Stella firmly believes that 'one thing leads to another' and she is always keen to discover new skills and activities. 

 In 2020 Stella was awarded an honorary degree by Winchester University at a service in Salisbury Cathedral. She enjoyed shaking hands with the Chancellor, Alan Titchmarsh, who presented her with the degree in recognition of her services to her former college and in the field of education. Stella has also met Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as the Archbishop of Canterbury and many bishops. It was a privilege for the audience to hear Stella's moving story, told with honesty and humour, and to examine some of her beautiful needlework and drawings. 

 Stella, you are a very talented person, in addition to being a role model for many as priest in the Church of England, and we consider it a great honour to have heard the story of your journey through embroidery and beyond...

Revd Sarah Bourne, Chaplain for the Arts at Banbury St Mary