Where Faith, History and Hand-Stitched Art Come Together
For anyone who loves needlepoint, textiles and the beauty of things made slowly by hand, Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., offers something quite extraordinary.
Most visitors first notice the soaring Gothic arches, carved stone, stained-glass windows and immense scale of the Cathedral. But look a little closer—particularly at the chapels, seating and kneelers—and another story begins to emerge.
It is a story told in needle and thread.
Throughout Washington National Cathedral is an extraordinary collection of needlework, including needlepoint kneelers, cushions and other stitched pieces. Historical accounts of the collection describe more than 1,500 pieces of needlework within the Cathedral.
For a needlepointer, it is a wonderful reminder that our craft can be much more than something framed on a wall. Needlepoint has been incorporated into a magnificent sacred building and used there for generations.
A Cathedral More Than 100 Years in the Making
The idea of a great church in the nation’s capital goes all the way back to the planning of Washington, D.C.
In 1791, Pierre L’Enfant envisioned a “great church for national purposes” as part of his plan for the new capital.
More than a century later, that idea began to take physical form. Congress granted a charter to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation in 1893, and construction of Washington National Cathedral began in 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt participated in the laying of the foundation stone.
Building the enormous Gothic-style Cathedral took 83 years.
The final stone was placed in 1990 in a ceremony attended by President George H. W. Bush.
Today, Washington National Cathedral is an Episcopal church and the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Although its history is closely connected with national events, it receives no direct financial support from the federal government.
The Needlepoint Hidden Throughout the Cathedral
For those of us who stitch, this may be one of the most fascinating parts of a visit.
The Cathedral’s needlework collection has historically included more than 1,500 needlepoint seat cushions, kneelers and wall hangings. The designs range from religious and symbolic imagery to flowers, animals and scenes honoring important figures in American history.
The tradition expanded significantly during the 20th century.
In 1954, Cathedral Dean Francis B. Sayre Jr. proposed bringing more religious needlepoint into the Cathedral after seeing beautiful examples of ecclesiastical needlework in Europe.
What followed was an extraordinary marriage of architecture and handwork.
Against stone walls, carved wood and stained glass, the softness and color of stitched wool add warmth and an unmistakably human touch.
And these pieces were not simply made to be admired.
Many were created as functional objects for worship—kneelers and cushions intended to be used.
That may be one of the most beautiful things about them.
Nearly 200 Needlepoint Kneelers Tell American Stories
One collection deserves special attention: the Cathedral’s American History needlepoint kneelers.
The Cathedral says it has nearly 200 needlepoint kneelers honoring people who made significant contributions to American history and culture. The original list of people to be represented was developed during the 1960s.
The subjects include presidents, writers, scientists, innovators, reformers, explorers, military leaders and other historical figures.
Rather than simply placing a person’s name on a cushion, the needlepoint can incorporate images and symbols representing that person’s life.
A wonderful modern example is the kneeler honoring President George H. W. Bush, dedicated in 2023.
Designed by Catherine Kapikian and hand-stitched by Nancy Hussey, it contains a remarkable collection of small visual references to Bush’s life—including Texas, his World War II service, Kennebunkport, diplomatic service, volunteerism and even his love of skydiving.
Think about that from a needlepoint designer’s perspective.
A relatively small stitched object becomes a miniature biography.
Needlework Made by Many Hands
Another part of the Cathedral needlepoint story that I particularly love is the connection between the individual stitcher and something much larger.
These pieces required designers, stitchers and volunteers willing to devote countless hours to creating them. Today, volunteers continue to help care for the collection, including cleaning and restoring needlepoint kneeler cushions.
Needlepoint can feel like a very solitary activity.
We sit with our canvas, thread and needle and slowly make one stitch after another.
But at Washington National Cathedral, thousands upon thousands of those individual stitches have become part of a collective work that will outlive many of the people who made them.
There is something very moving about that.
And Then There Are the Tapestries
Needlepoint lovers should also look for another textile treasure inside the Cathedral: the magnificent David and Goliath tapestries.
These are not needlepoint. They are true woven Flemish tapestries and are more than 400 years old.
The tapestries tell the biblical story of David and Goliath and were given to the Cathedral by Larz and Isabel Anderson, who also helped fund St. Mary’s Chapel, where the tapestries hang.
Seeing centuries-old tapestry alongside 20th- and 21st-century needlework provides a wonderful lesson in the continuing tradition of textile art.
Different techniques. Different makers. Different centuries.
Yet all use fiber, color, imagery and craftsmanship to tell a story.
What to Look for When You Visit
Don’t rush through the Cathedral .
Look downward as well as upward.
The stained glass and soaring architecture naturally draw your eyes toward the ceiling, but some of the most interesting textile details are much closer to the floor.
Look at the kneelers and cushions. Notice the backgrounds, borders, lettering, symbols and ways recognizable objects have been simplified so they can be rendered in stitches.
For a needlepoint designer, they are wonderful studies in how a complicated idea can be translated onto canvas.
Also look for the American History needlepoint kneelers, the needlework in the chapels and the David and Goliath tapestries in St. Mary’s Chapel.
The Cathedral sometimes offers thematic tours that explore its art and history, and needlepoint is included in some of its specialized programming. Tour offerings change, so check the schedule before planning a trip.
Planning Your Visit
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
The Cathedral’s sightseeing schedule varies from day to day because it remains an active place of worship and hosts services, ceremonies and special events.
On many sightseeing days, visiting hours are approximately 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but visitors should not assume those hours apply to every date. Check the Cathedral’s official calendar before leaving home.
Sightseeing is ticketed, while regular worship services and private prayer are free. Self-guided sightseeing admission includes access to the main level, lower-level chapels and exhibits and, when available, the Tower Observation Gallery.
The Cathedral also has an underground parking garage. The nearest
Before visiting: Because services and special events can change public sightseeing hours, always check the Cathedral’s current visitor calendar.
Why Needlepoint Lovers Should See It
We often think of needlepoint today in terms of ornaments, pillows, framed pieces and small decorative canvases.
Washington National Cathedral offers a much broader perspective.
Here, needlepoint becomes part of architecture, worship, history and storytelling.
A stitcher may have sat quietly at home decades ago, pulling wool through canvas one stitch at a time, never knowing exactly how many people would eventually see or use the finished piece.
And now those stitches live inside one of America’s most remarkable buildings.
Perhaps that is one of the quiet gifts of needlepoint.
We make something slowly with our hands, but we never really know how long its story may last.
— BeeBee Designs
