The other week I created my very own stained glass window road trip using the website www.visitstainedglass.uk. Visiting four stunning examples of both contemporary and traditional church windows on my way from Hampshire to Leicestershire.
If you enjoy stained glass then this website is well worth a look. Some of the best examples both old and new have been highlighted by some of the finest stained glass artists, conservators and authors. Make sure you phone ahead to avoid disappointment as some churches and venues are not always open.
First up was the Church of St Michael & All Angels in Blewbury, Oxford. This 11th Century church sits on a church site dating back to Saxon times. Alongside some of its historic windows it now houses the stunning West Window, 'Resound' designed and made by Rachel Phillips and installed in 2020.
Rachel's contemporary window centres around the eight bells of St Michael's housed in the West tower. Each of the eight bells are represented in the window by a circular form in differing sizes. The largest representing the Tenor bell, the smallest, the Treble. Rachel has designed in so many references, from street maps and waterways of Blewbury, resonating sound by way of concentric circles and spirals and bell ringing charts. You will see bells painted throughout and the central Alpha and Omega symbols reflect those in the historic East window.
Possibly the most profound reference are the words 'Nil Desperandum' in the bottom right light. This means 'do not despair' and is a direct rubbing from the inscription on the Tenor bell. In 1825 the Tenor bell was cast 3 times by John Hunt whose initial attempts produced a poor sounding bell and he ran out of metal on his second. On the third and final casting John added the inscription on the bell.
My second Church just 10 minutes up the road was All Saints church in North Moreton. A grade 1 listed church with parts of it dating back to the Norman times. The beautiful Chantry Chapel was built on to the south side of the Chancel around the turn of the 13th/14th centuries and houses the huge East window filled with exceptional medieval glass.
The window has five lancets, slender pointed arch lights. Each lancet depicts tall tired tabernacles containing three scenes from the lives of saints and are designed to be studied from bottom to top.
It is incredible to think how old this window is and how much of it has survived. It has been significantly damaged in the past with many of the faces being obliterated, likely during reformation or Puritan times! There are many other fine examples of stained glass windows in the church including the main alter window.
My final visit was to the Church of St Bartholomew in Nettlebed, 25 mins from All Saints to see the Williamson Window and the Flemming Window. Contemporary masterpieces by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens installed in 1970. These windows did not disappoint, both with incredible richness of colour.
John Piper, artist, started his involvement with stained glass in his 50's but completed nearly sixty commissions in just 34 years. His partnership with Reyntiens, who interpreted his designs into glass transformed stained glass in England.
This road trip preceded a two day master glass painting course I undertook at Derek Hunt's Studio in Medbourne. I hope to one day be as good as these artist and leave a legacy.