Judy Barry and Beryl Patten established their freelance partnership designing and making embroidered church textiles in 1973. Since that time they have produced numerous embroidered vestments, altar frontals and furnishings for places of worship in England. Each piece is individually designed specifically for the location and the requirements of the clients and their budget.

Many commissions have been completed since 1973 including work for major cathedrals, parish churches, chapels and a synogogue. During their partnership they have introduced some new and inventive design solutions within the field of ecclesiastical embroidery, including the idea of multi seasonal schemes and detachable panels for altar frontals (both in 1974) and they recently redesigned a ceremonial cope, making it functional and lightweight for twenty-first century use (1996).

Judy Barry and Beryl Patten work to commission from a well equipped workroom in Manchester, England. They are primarily machine embroiderers using a wide variety of machines including the Irish (Singer 107w) Cornely and Bernina.