The 20 biblical panels in the hall of the Aberdeen Dutch Reformed Church are among the most unique works of religious textile art in South Africa. Far more than simple decorations, the panels collectively tell the story of God’s covenant with humanity, taking visitors on a visual journey from Creation in the Old Testament to the Second Coming of Christ in the New Testament.

Designed by Johanna König and created in just four months by five local women, one young man, and numerous community volunteers, each panel was painstakingly assembled using textiles, sheep’s wool, hessian and a homemade flour-and-salt glue. Rather than being painted, the scenes were built piece by piece from fabric, with only the faces hand-painted onto cloth, making them an extraordinary example of community craftsmanship.

The sequence of panels follows key biblical events, including Creation, Noah’s Ark, Moses and the Exodus, the Nativity, the Sermon on the Mount, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and Resurrection, culminating in the Second Coming of Christ. An Alpha and Omega motif links the first and last panels, symbolising Christ as “the beginning and the end” and reinforcing the overarching theme of redemption throughout scripture.

Originally conceived to improve the hall’s acoustics, the installation achieved that practical purpose while also becoming one of Aberdeen’s most remarkable cultural attractions. Today, the biblical panels are admired not only for their artistic beauty but also as a testament to the faith, creativity and collaborative spirit of the local community that brought them to life.