Vessel is an art trail in seven remote rural churches between Usk and Hay-on-Wye. Six of the churches are maintained by the Friends of Friendless Churches who keep them open all year round.

A community art installation, ‘Floating Field’, was suspended in the nave of All Hallows by the Tower during summer 2022, enabled by the artist Helen Maurer.

Commissioned by Art and Christianity and made in response to the current global ecological crisis this exhibition was comprised of an installation, sound walk and a film work made in collaboration with women elders from the communities of St Andrew’s Church and Shri Nathji Sanatan Hindu Temple.

Hannah Whittaker produced a large, vibrant floor installation, Parquet Picioare which was installed in the chancel at St Margaret’s Church Leytonstone.

Victoria Burgher worked with the community local to All Saint’s Church, Leyton, to make a large circular wreath of handmade chrysanthemums, the flower which appears in William Morris’s iconic wallpaper design. The flowers were made by Burgher and by members of the church community during a series of workshops. This community-built public artwork was installed on the striking, pyramid shaped exterior wall of the church, when it was commemorated with a special service.

Initiated with an aim to build relationships between Waltham Forest churches and the communities which surround them through the medium of contemporary art, this project comprised four artists commissions realised in four churches in Waltham Forest.

Naomi Maxwell produced a series of photographic portraits for St Edmund’s Church, Chingford, which explored the idea of making connections across social and cultural divides. Naomi worked with groups such as Waltham Forest Citizens, Waltham Forest Young Advisers and Christian Kitchen to meet and photograph people whose work and lives exemplified the theme ‘fellowship’.

This project was a single artist, site-specific commission at All Saints and St Andrew, Kingston. Artists based at nearby Wysing Art Centre’s studios were invited to propose new work in response to a brief which called for the selected artist to respond directly to the historic wall paintings within the church.