The Australian autograph textile with a South African link

In 1894, as was a custom in those days, a quilt was created to raise funds for a new Anglican church in Sunbury, Australia.

People were able to subscribe to the undertaking by having their names, signatures, motifs or initials embroidered onto squares that were then stitched together to form the completed quilt. This particular quilt raised money by donation and also by being auctioned. The project, it is believed, of Lady Janet Clarke, a philanthropist who was active in support for the arts and of the education of young women as well as running a large family home and, after her husband’s death, an estate, the quilt can now be seen at the National Museum of Australia.

The names on the cloth have not all been identified yet but connections with the UK, Australia, South Africa and China through, amongst others, missionaries and mission work. One of those is John Knox Bokwe.

John Knox Bokwe was an influential and respected journalist, clergyman and composer from South Africa. He is best-known for his work on Xhosa music, transcribing it into the Tonic Sol-fa system and writing hymns and songs that were published by the Lovedale Mission, Africa’s largest mission institution.

You can read more about this fascinating man and his legacy on the John Knox Bokwe website here.

Try an autograph quilt for yourself: https://youtu.be/WnkcelFopXs?si=HOqYJYm82btyas5u

This link was submitted by a reader of the blog. Thank you.