A RARE find made the perfect present for gift day at All Saints Church, in Witley, last Sunday.

The recent rediscovery of a beautiful embroidery by leading Arts and Crafts designer Mary Newill, gifted to the church in 1916, has thrilled parishioners.

The 100-year-old funeral pall made to cover caskets was rediscovered in the church vestry, after art historian Dr Claire FitzGerald contacted All Saints while researching Mary Newill (1860-1947).

The designer had a close connection with the church, because her brother the Reverend Edward Newill was vicar of Witley from 1909 until 1927.

Her embroidery took centre stage at the church’s open day for donations, which was also ‘All Saints’ patronal birthday.

Visitors were also able to admire another Mary Newill artworks, the wall-mounted memorial she designed to commemorate Witley soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War.

Dr Fitzgerald told The Herald: “I specialise in women artists in the Arts and Crafts movement. Mary Newill regularly exhibited with the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society.

“While well recognised in her time, little is known about her today.

“The funeral pall has exquisitely embroidered flowers and lettering and has been beautifully conserved.

“It is quite a rare find and has generated a lot of local interest. I have also been contacted by a couple of local historians.”

All Saints’ resident priest the Rev Ann Fraser said: “The funeral pall was gifted to the church for ‘the use of people of Witley’ by the Horsley Palmer family, who lived in the village.

“The gift had been logged and was kept in the church vestry to be used for funerals, but we didn’t know it was something special until Claire got in touch.”

Witley vicar Rev Jane Vlach added: “It’s amazing to have such a glorious work of art dedicated to be used by the community and to be given as a gift in that way.”