A New Adventure

Helen Elizabeth “Bunny“ Morgan

Probably everyone who works in this industry is familiar with Elizabeth “Bunny” Morgan, and her business, Church Linens and Vestments. Most of you probably also know that she passed to her eternal reward on September 11, 2024. I cannot overstate what a painful loss this is for all in the liturgical sewing community. I still find myself wanting to fire questions at her and pick her beautiful brain about so many, many new adventures. She was such a kindred spirit. I miss her terribly.

For the few of you who don’t know, Bunny Morgan was the heart and soul behind Church Linens and Vestments, (ChurchLinens.com), a thriving online resource dedicated to the art of liturgical sewing. Through her business, she provided fine linen, liturgical fabric, sewing patterns, specialized tools, and instructional manuals and kits. But beyond the materials, she offered something far greater—an endless wealth of knowledge, personalized support, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring that every project was executed with skill and reverence. With her signature charm and no-nonsense insistence on proper technique, she guided countless altar guilds and liturgical seamstresses from around the world, leaving an indelible mark on the craft.

Like many of you, after a session with a box of Kleenex, a bit of alarm crept in. How would we manage without her beautiful linen? How would we get her wonderful M. Perkins fabrics? What if we broke our Golden Ruler?

Then a fat envelope showed up from a lawyer in Connecticut. In her will, Bunny entrusted her business, and her astonishing body of knowledge to the St. Martha’s Guild. Surprise doesn't really describe it. She had mentioned a few years ago that she wanted our guild to have her collection of antique vestments. I also knew that her dear friend Sue, who worked closely with Bunny, was likely the one who would carry things on. However, that adventure was a bit more than Sue wanted to take on.

So, it is our adventure. We have hung out our shingle to sell her beloved linen, ecclesiastical fabrics, patterns, tools, and instruction manuals. We have unpacked her truckload of treasures. The Canons have graciously given us the large room that is connected to our current sewing area. We have set up accounts with the vendors, expanded our web store, lined up our ducks and geared up to supply all of you dear folks with the things you need to make the things that your priests need.

We’re up and running and currently offer her linen, liturgical fabrics, patterns, instruction manuals, Golden Ruler, and other various pieces that she created to make our work more doable. We also have a few of her unfinished books in the works, including an amazing manual for constructing frontals, and an expanded edition of Sewing Church Linens. Stay tuned for those.

And, yes, as many of you have asked, you can make purchases with an easy online shopping cart.

We do have all of Elizabeth’s items, but are still working to get them loaded up. If you are looking for something that is not currently available on our web store, reach out to the lovely Emily and she’ll get you sorted out. She can also help you with special orders and other questions.

Our ongoing task will be to enfold her enormous deposit of information into this website.  It is a sobering task, and a delightful privilege. This might take a minute, but we are determined to make it happen. One important segment will be to transfer the wealth of knowledge that exists on her Church Linens and Vestments website to ours. Much of it will live in The Guide section. We will leave her site up and running until we get everything sorted out.

Keep an eye out for her signature bunny, which will mark her contributions.

And about that bunny—she was born on Easter, so her family immediately and affectionately dubbed her “Bunny,” a nickname that would stick with her for the rest of her life.

Reliqua aeterna ei, Domine.

Et luceat ei perpetua lux.

Anima eius, et animae omnium fidelium per Dei misericordiam in pace quiescant. Amen.