|
East Window |
A striking feature of the present-day interior
of St Mary’s is the amount of natural light in the building. This is
because it was entirely re-glazed in 1951 with antique glass in very
light tints, the only exception to this being the east window.
The east window was re-glazed in 1951 at a
cost of £1050 and was paid for by Sir Richard and Lady Wells of
Felmersham Grange. It was given in memory of their three sons, who
gave their lives in the Second World War, and to their nurse. The
artist was Francis Spear and the design consists of a central figure
of the risen Christ, to His right stands St Mary and St Christopher
and to the left St Thomas and St James. These are shown as the
patron and name saints of the three sons and their nurse.
Each son was a
member of one of the three services so the artist has included the
patron saint of each service in the heraldry below. The traceries
are filled with the choir and orchestra of angels praising God with
music.
Francis Spear appears to have worked from the 1930s to the 1960s He
was a teacher at Central St. Martins from the 1930s-50s succeeding
Karl Parsons. His work includes: Glasgow Cathedral - east window
(1951); St Martin's South Cliff, Scarborough - west window; St.
James' Church, Westgate & Garlinge - east window (1960) and St
Bartholomew's Church, Sydenham - east window (1953).
Elements of the east window are shown below (medium download time) |
