Hovering knits the Bible against the clock

Hovering Methodist Church held its first speed-knitting afternoon on Saturday, in which eleven knitters were given ninety minutes, a bag of wool and a list of biblical figures, and asked to do their best.

The rules were read out twice by Mrs Olive Brackenbury, who had drawn them up herself. One figure per knitter, nothing brought part-finished from home, and marks awarded for likeness, sturdiness and general Old Testament feeling. A stopwatch was borrowed from the Cubs and started at two o'clock sharp.

Progress was steady rather than dramatic. Mrs Vera Stubbins produced a creditable Moses with eleven minutes in hand, though the tablets were later found to be upside down. Cyril Bostock's Goliath came out considerably larger than the brief allowed, which he maintains was the point. An ambitious attempt at the whole Nativity got as far as the donkey.

The Adam and Eve entry was withdrawn shortly before judging on grounds of finishing, the fig leaves having taken longer than anticipated.

Rev'd Wendy Warburton judged, and gave first place to a Jonah with a separate and fully detachable whale. Doreen Pickles' tea urn held out until half past three, which is rather longer than anyone had asked of it. The afternoon raised £96 for the Wesley roof appeal, and the figures will be on display in the vestry until somebody claims them.