Churches across Worcestershire and Dudley are marking Remembrance Day with stunning displays of knitted and crocheted poppies, often stretching down the tower or from the roof of the church.
Volunteers have been knitting and crocheting the poppies over many months, which are then brought together to create an eye-catching display in the church.
There have been many community groups and friends of the churches involved in producing the displays.
Powick
Creating the poppy cascade at St Peter’s Church in Powick was completely led by community members and features over 5000 poppies knitted, crocheted or made and then hand sewn onto netting. The Revd Gary Crellin, said:
“It has taken the community less than a year for the poppies to be created, beginning with a local craft group and spreading to people in the local community and as far away as mid-Wales! A small army of folk have then worked most weekday afternoons to stitch them on to the netting and the local school has also been involved. Even I helped to stitch on one of the very last poppies!”
The cascade at Powick was raised on 24 October and hangs down the front of the church from the top of the tower.
Worcester
The display at St John in Bedwardine Church in Worcester features over 8,000 poppies. It was created by the Knit and Natter group based at the church with contributions coming from Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Bristol! It creates a spectacular backdrop to the war memorial next to the church.
St Nicholas’ Church in Warndon will have a poppy cascade in place a from 1 November for a month. The knitted cascade also has a poppy 'field' at its base with poppies made from plastic bottles by children and families from the church and the local community. The church is open on weekdays from 10am - 4pm for visitors.
Broadway
St Michael’s Church in Broadway have been working on their cascade since January with members of the church, Broadway Crafters and Sew U Knit craft shop all involved. Around 5,000 poppies have been knitted with the cascade due to be hung from the tower by the end of October.
Vicar Shellie Ward said:
“It’s been an amazing experience involving many who don’t usually come through the church doors. We’ve had poppies posted from Leicester, Lincoln and Wales and even people holidaying in the area have knitted crocheted or sewed poppies. St Mary’s RC Primary and Broadway First School have both been involved and are creating a display of purple poppies to remember the animals which will be in church from 2 November.”
There is also a display at St John’s Church in Wichkhamford in the same benefice, with the church open from 10am - 4pm on 3 - 11 November.
Kidderminster
At Holy Innocents’ Church, Kidderminster, the poppy display is inside the church, reaching from the organ loft balcony to the floor of the church. Team Vicar, Laura Betson said:
“So many people have worked together to create this beautiful display. Poppies have been made by church members, the families of those who attend our toddler service, those who come to our coffee mornings, and friends and family too. It’s a beautiful display and focuses our attention on Remembrance Sunday as we remember all those who gave their lives in the service of their country.”
Poppies can viewed on Saturday 8 November and Tuesday 11 November, 10am-4pm
Redditch
20 members of the congregation of St Philip's Church in Webheath, Redditch, along with their relatives and friends have been knitting or crocheting poppies to create their Remembrance display. Over a thousand poppies have been made, sewn onto a backing cloth and will form a cascade from the top of the rood screen, down over the pulpit and onto the floor of the nave. Other poppies have been used to create two roundels. One, based on the theme of peace, will be placed by the war memorial inside the church, the other, remembering the effect of conflict on animals, will be displayed by the entrance door. The display will be in place until late November.
Members of St Peter’s Church in Ipsley, Redditch have made and erected three wooden crosses outside the East window of the church with another church member and St Peter’s Craft Group stitching poppies onto netting which has been draped over the crosses.
Malvern
St James’ Church in Malvern will also feature a poppy cascade inside the church. It has been created primarily by West Malvern WI with some poppies being crocheted or knitted by people in the village and friends. It will be hung in church ready for the start of the Remembrance weekend. 
Great Malvern Priory are using empty plastic bottles, which children transformed into a poppy display at their family day on 1 November. Hilary Ruck, Children, Youth and Families Coordinator at the Priory said:
“Each child will be able to dedicate their poppy to a member of the Priory who gave their life during the 1st and 2nd World Wars. We are very much hoping that we can add to it every year, until we can cascade poppies from the tower!”
Cradley
At St Peter’s Church in Cradley, Halesowen, the Poppy Cascade was added to the tower on Sunday 2 Nov and will remain in place until Sunday 16 November if the weather is kind. The church will be open for visitors to see the cascade and displays inside from Monday 10 until Thursday 13 November from 10am until 2pm.
