St Leonard’s Church in Rockingham, Ontario was built in 1875 when the hamlet was a lively community. The population peaked at about 100 souls in 1899 and then began to drop off as the pine was logged out and farmers left to find more arablfule land. The last regular service was held in 1941, but the building (one of the oldest in the area) remains today, preserved and maintained by The Friends of the Rockingham Church Inc- a registered charity. Today Rockingham is considered a “semi-ghost” town but this beautiful church continues to sit peacefully among the trees. Rockingham is approximately 15 km east of Combermere and is well worth a visit. I wanted to celebrate this sacred place in a wall hanging and this is the third of the Valley View projects.

The project can be found at Textile Traditions at 87 Mill Street in Almonte. Kelly’s lovely shop not only boasts lots of tantalizing quilt fabric and notions, but also features lots of beautiful wool and knitting tools to tempt all fibre artists. Stop in for a warm welcome and enjoy the colours and textures Kelly and her staff have to offer.