See also: Words and Music for Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
LONDON (UMNS) -- Britain's national postal service has chosen the life and contributions of John and Charles Wesley as the theme for its most popular denomination of Christmas stamp.
The stamp is part of a series of four released by the Royal Mail in November entitled "The Christian's Tale," celebrating the last 1,000 years of Christian experience in Britain. Texas-born artist Brody Neuenschwander, an internationally renowned calligrapher living in Belgium, designed the stamp.
This 19p (US$.31) stamp is a tribute to Methodism's founder -- who traveled more than 225,000 miles and preached some 40,000 sermons -- and his prolific, hymn-writing brother. Philip Parker of the Royal Mail Design division explained that John and Charles Wesley are "touchstones" of the evangelical tradition in Britain and represent a move that took the Word of God out of the pulpit and into the open air to the people.
The stamp design incorporates a mixture of written texts and image, an approach for which Neuenschwander is particularly well known. As part of his research into the Wesleys, the artist visited John Wesley's Chapel in London as well as Wesley Seminary in Bristol. One of the chapel's stained-glass angels served as inspiration for the stamp.
"The style of the glass (at Wesley's Chapel) was so much like that of the Methodist church I went to in Houston," he told United Methodist News Service.
Neuenschwander also used fragments of a letter from John to Charles and a portion of Charles' Christmas carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," taken from a first-edition hymnal, to create his work. At full size, the stamp measures 1½ by 3/4 inches.
"The problem with a stamp," he explained, "is that I have a very rich theme and a very small space."
Though Neuenschwander described his upbringing as "non-religious," he has fond memories of visits with friends to First United Methodist Church in Houston while growing up. He recalled being impressed with his friends' "moderation combined with conviction."
"Methodists have been movers and shakers," he said. "...Something important was going on in these people's heads. ... I was surprised how appropriate it was that I would have a chance to deal with this subject."
Part of the training that prepared Neuenschwander for the assignment came from Methodist-related Roehampton Institute in London, the only academic institution in the world with a degree program in western-style calligraphy. Neuenschwander also designed this year's Royal Mail Christmas Aerogram, which makes much use of his trademark layered calligraphy style.
*LaCamera is a United Methodist News Service correspondent based in England.
| Top | GBGM | United Methodist History | C. Wesley's Hymns | Wesleys & Their Times |
Photo Credit: WESLEY STAMP -- Britain's national postal service has chosen the life and contributions of John and Charles Wesley as the theme for its most popular denomination of Christmas stamp. The stamp is part of a series of four released by the Royal Mail in November entitled "The Christian's Tale," celebrating the last 1,000 years of Christian experience in Britain. Texas-born artist Brody Neuenschwander, an internationally renowned calligrapher living in Belgium, designed the stamp. A UMNS photo courtesy of the Royal Mail.
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, New York, and Washington.