Female ancestors have been immortalised in a new art exhibition.

Foremothers, an art installation by Maccreate, has gone on display at Christ Church.

It features the work of 19 contemporary artists, who have each built a 3D casket in memory of a chosen female relative.

Lead artists Tyra Till said: "What gave me the idea for Foremothers led on from The Women's Line that we did last year.

"That was portraits of our female family trees pegged like washing around the gallery in the Silk Museum on a silk rope with golden pegs.

"Ancestry very much tends to be dominated by the male line, so it brings interesting new perspective to think about female ancestors."

Foremothers at Christ Church, Bridge Street (Credit: Maccreate)

Tyra continued: "As Maccreate, we wanted a project that would again engage both professional and non-professional artists collaboratively and again focus on female heritage.

"We always aim for diverse recruitment to make the work most interesting and build community.

"Discovering the link to Macclesfield being known in some circles as 'Womenstown' plus the celebration of Christ Church's 250th anniversary, and the tombstone outside to the martyrs that includes women, brought everything together.

"The shrines to foremothers in henge formation on a circular plinth, whilst not religious, seem so appropriate and respectful under the magnificent stained glass altar window.

"As the finished shrines show, each of us have unique ways to express ourselves successfully.

"I love how creative community is being solidly built in our town, particularly by Artspace and the Silk Museum, and that Maccreate are part of it."

The display features the work of 19 contemporary artists (Credit: Maccreate)

Foremothers opened at Christ Church on July 26 and will remain on display until the end of August.

Also on display is the work of Aimee Spilsted, Anastasia Lutsenko, Anna and Alison Fenwick, Carys Lavin, Debbie MacKintosh, Jackie Hewart, Marion Waszkowycz, Lucie Fitzpatrick, Michelle Brown, Nahid Hashemi-Gough, Natalya Jaddock, Patty Callaghan, Susan Kay, Victoriia Chaika and Linda Leeson.

Linda said: "In Foremothers we wanted to concentrate on celebrating one female family member in more depth and we chose to do this in the form of shrines . 

"We are delighted with the results.

"Although the brief and dimensions of the boxes was the same , there is such a wide variety of interpretations in the 19 women's final pieces."

Tyra added: "People are wandering in and staying for much longer than they thought.

"There are usually a couple of the artists stewarding the installation, so conversations get interesting.

"One family went home and the two young daughters were so inspired that they set to and made a shrine of their own!"

You can view Foremothers at Christ Church until the end of August (Credit: Maccreate)