Elsie Johnson has knitted the scene of the Last Supper which has been put on display at St Giles on the Hill church in Norwich. PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY

It has been a labour of love for a grandmother who has spent the past three months knitting a scene from The Last Supper.

Nimble-fingered Elsie Johnson has crafted the scene including Jesus, his 12 disciples, plates, jugs, mugs and mini loaves of bread and chunks of cheese.

The woolly creation is on display at the Church of St Giles on the Hill in Upper St Giles, Norwich, which the 74-year-old has attended since she was just seven years old.

Mrs Johnson, who lives at Gurney Court, Costessey, with her husband David, said: “It’s going to be kept in the church and brought out every Lent.

“I find knitting relaxing, I really enjoy doing it. I knitted everything except the fish. Some parts were quite difficult and fiddly.”

The grandmother-of-one is no stranger to ambitious knitting projects. Last year she knitted Noah’s Ark complete with 50 animals from snails to giraffes and in 2010 she recreated a scene from the royal wedding.

Mrs Johnson said: “I have also knitted a number of Nativity scenes. Some are in America and Australia. This year I wanted to do something different. It was a challenge because all I had for reference was a Da Vinci painting.”

Jesus and his 12 disciples are all wearing knitted sandals and some are holding tiny knitted goblets. Mrs Johnson, a retired welfare assistant, who used to work at the Clare School, started knitting on New Year’s Day.

“My friend Guy Hill said he didn’t think I would be able to do it and I wanted to prove him wrong,” Mrs Johnson added. “It has turned out better than I thought it would; I am really pleased with it.”

Priest-in-charge Father Darren Thornton said: “At St Giles we have decided to turn around the nave altar and place the knitted version of the Lord’s supper into it and Elsie’s husband David has even made a table for the knitted disciples to sit behind.

“During Passion week and Holy week it will be a good focus to remind us that Christ has given us this meal to be a blessing to us.

“Elsie Johnson’s work will help us remember Christ and all that he went through and the importance of the Eucharist for Christians today.”

Do you have a story for the Norwich Evening News? Call reporter Lucy Wright on 01603 772439 or email lucy.wright@archant.co.uk

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