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Windows of All Saints Wraxall
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These beautiful stained glass windows are mainly the work of Charles Eamer Kempe. They show the development of Christ’s life, beginning with the Annunciation on the west wall. The Nativity, Infancy and Childhood of Christ follow, on the north wall. The Ministry of Christ is portrayed in the Charlton Chapel with the Passion and Crucifixion. The Entombment and Resurrection are on the south wall of the chancel. Separately, the west window has St. Michael slaying the dragon, while Christ reigns in Majesty in the magnificent east window.
The windows were funded by Antony Gibbs of Tyntesfield, together with the chancel, screen, altar and reredos, in 1893/94. The two windows not designed by Kempe are on the south side of the Chancel. These were made by C.E.Tute (l858-1927)., who is thought to have worked for Kempe at one time and adopted his style. Some features reflect the Oxford Movement leanings of the Gibbs family. The non-scriptural story of St. Veronica, about to wipe our Lord’s face as he carried the cross, is in the Charlton Chapel. The scriptural verses in the Passion windows are those traditionally sung on Good Friday.
The most eastern window in the Charlton Chapel has a pair of shields – one with three small wheatsheaves on a red ground – the arms of the Kempe family. On the other is the initials of Alfred Edward Tombleson, who was responsible for making the glass, and was also Kempe’s master glass painter. See if you can spot these towards the top of the window, on either side.
Several windows have the Kempe logo – a single wheatsheaf – adopted in l895.
- Extra - Download the Wraxall Stained Glass Windows Screensaver To find out more about Charles Eamer Kempe click here |
