Tour of the Church
Stained Glass - Tour of the Building
As
you enter the porch from the main entrance of the church, facing you
is the Porch Window depicting Jesus' story of the Pharisee and the
publican coming to worship God. Below the window is a marble memorial to
the members of the parish who gave their lives in the First World War
1914 - 1918.
Porch Window © Neil Hawes
On
passing through the glass panelled doors from the porch, you enter the
main building at the west end. To the left is the gallery, above which
is the Rose Window.
Below the gallery is the Baptistry behind which is the Baptistry Window. The window's four panels show Mary - taking Jesus to the synagogue; listening to God's messenger; giving bread to the poor; teaching Jesus the scripture.
Next on the left is the choir vestry and facing you the north porch. Turning right down the north aisle leads to the North Side Window, which commemorates Edward Arthur Harding, who died in a flying accident in 1946. It depicts Jesus as the Good Shepherd sending angels to guide us from life's thorns to a place with streams of living water.
North Side Window © Neil Hawes
The
window in the North Transept, another added in the twentieth century,
is in memory of George John Cassio and shows Jesus and children of all
nations. It is based on a well known picture of Jesus embracing
children.
North Transept Window © Neil Hawes
The East Window in the Chancel depicts Jesus as the
bridge between earth and heaven in his ascended glory but with the scars
of his crucifixion in hands and feet. Heaven and earth are separated by
a rainbow, the sign of God's faithfulness. On earth Mary appears
kneeling in prayer with the apostles. In heaven are innumerable saints
and angels worshipping Christ as God and every crevice of the stonework
has an angel face peeping out. At the top is the lamb and the four
living creatures representing the four gospels.
© Denise Toye - www.brilliantimages.co.uk
The Chapel Window again has Mary as its theme (and Mary Magdalene and Cleopas for good measure). It has three panels with the Annunciation on the left, the Cross in the centre and the Adoration of the Shepherds and Magi on the right.
Chapel Window © Neil Hawes
Leaving the Chapel along the South Aisle leads to the South Side Window - a war memorial for all those who fell in the Second World War. It depicts Jesus stilling the storm in the centre, on the left a blacksmith beating swords into ploughshares and harvest on the right. It is by Veronica Whall, who also executed the North Side Window.
South Side Window © Neil Hawes
