The quilts, hung from the balcony and draped over pews, transform the place of worship into a colorful showcase which fairgoers typically study with sighs of appreciation.

This year, the church is offering visitors a special treat- an opportunity to view quilters at work on an unfinished quilt laid on a wood frame built by former resident Vincent Budris.

Mr. Budris and his wife Shirley, who purchased the quilt at an auction, now live in West Virginia.

According to parishioner Lynn Koehler of Southbury, the frame, which has wooden gears, was one of three built by her uncle five years ago.

He gave it to her mother, Phyllis Bice Budris of Oxford, who is lending it to the church for its quilt show.

Aside from the fact that the quilt is an antique and incomplete, little is known about its history, Mrs. Koehler said.

She said she knows that it's old because the colors the quilter used when assembling it - turkey red, brown and off white - are typical of quilts assembled in the 1800s.

The pattern, baskets of triangle-shaped "flowers" in shades of brown, is a variation of the Grandmother's Garden design.

Mrs. Koehler said her aunt began the process of stitching the quilt on the frame, but part of it, which is rolled at one end of the frame, remains incomplete.

She said two local quilters, Catherine Helm and Tinker Jacquette, will continue stitching during the fair, which is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16.

When the quilt is completed, Phyllis will donate it to the Oxford Historical Society, which it may either display at the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead Museum or raffle off to raise funds.

The frame will be returned to Phyllis, Mrs. Koehler said.

In addition to the quilt show, the fair will feature baked goods, a plant sale, a nice-as-new table and breakfast and lunch.

A tag sale of items in good working condition also is planned.