The ‘Christ in Glory tapestry, Coventry Cathedral

In 2015 Textile Conservation Limited, in collaboration with May Berkouwer Textile Conservation, carried out the assessment and cleaning of the ‘Christ in Glory’ tapestry in Coventry Cathedral.  Designed by the British artist Graham Sutherland and made in France in the late 1950s it measures 23m high by 12m wide and is the largest continuously woven tapestry in the world.  It is said to have 900 different weft colours and to weigh over a ton.  Since its installation in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral in 1961 it has become progressively soiled by atmospheric dirt, including soot from a fire in 2001.  The dirt has accumulated in a regular pattern of bands across the width of the tapestry despite it having been cleaned by commercial cleaning firms and textile conservators several times.  Over six weeks a team of four conservators from the two studios removed large amounts of dirt from the front and back of the tapestry using hand held vacuum cleaners, chemical sponges and microfibre cloths.  A detailed technical analysis and condition assessment of the tapestry was also carried out, and a dust monitoring programme established.  Data collected during annual visits to examine the tapestry are contributing to the development of a long term care plan for this unique and iconic artwork.