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Hopwood Christian Church, located adjacent to the Milligan College campus, will have its annual quilt show and craft sale October 25 and 26.

The show will feature a broad collection of antique, vintage, and new quilts.

The Hopwood church is one of the oldest congregations in the area. It’s almost 200-year history ties it to a number of historical figures and events. However next weekend the congregation invites the public to a quilt display of old and new quilts inside the auditorium.

This is the ninth year the church has hosted the quilt show.

“The quilts are displayed on the backs of the pews and are from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers and are also ones we are almost done making. We have asked the congregation and our friends to bring us their quilts. All are wonderful in their own ways, from the ones made out of feed sacks during the depression to the ones that portray Jesus’ parables,” said Anne Banks, whose family has a long-time affiliation with the church. 

In the 1930s the women of Hopwood raised money to buy the church’s beautiful stained glass windows by coming together and making quilts and then selling them.

Although admission to the show is free, all proceeds from the craft sale will go to the Hopwood Building Fund, which was done to enable handicapped worshippers to attend the church. The building is now handicapped accessible for any who want to attend the quilt show and craft sale. “Crafts are handmade by church members and are varied and delightful,” said Banks. 

In addition to homemade arts and crafts, there will also be canned goods for purchase.

“Although the congregation isn’t selling any quilts this time, it is a nice nod to the church’s heritage to have the quilt show, as well as being a chance to showcase some local art,” said Banks.

There are a wide variety of quilting types and patterns, including Amish quilts, utilitarian quilts, and yo-yo quilts, plus other hand-crafted fabric arts, some in excess of 100 years old.

“The exhibition is staffed by church members and quilters ready and able to answer questions about the quilts on display or about the art and history of quilting in general.

“We have always had a theme for our quilt show and this year we were not able to think of one, but with the recent tragedies, I think a fitting theme would be, “Comfort Ye, My People.” Entering the sanctuary covered by handmade quilts of all colors and designs with the stained glass windows shining down on them gives one an assurance of God’s love. I hope everyone will come experience this,” said Banks.

The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Hopwood Christian Church is located at 109 Hopwood Lane, Milligan College.