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The dissolution in the 1530s and the
collapse of the spire in 1594 almost certainly removed some older glass and
the Civil War probably destroyed a lot more. Consequently, most of the glass
in St. Mary's originates from the C19th and early C20th
and is of variable quality.
Nave Windows
Arguably the best glass in the church is in the
West Window rich in
blues and deep reds and depicting sixteen miracles performed by Jesus; a very
attractive attempt by Gerente (1850) to
reflect the character of medieval glass. Sadly this magnificent
window is obscured to a large extent by the Hill, Norman & Beard organ.
The
Pugin Window is set in a
lancet dating from around 1220 in the west wall of the north aisle. This
was designed by A.W.N. Pugin in 1846, in memory of John Masfen, the
self-taught artist who made drawings of St. Mary's following the Scott
restoration: a small window but a very fine one, rich in colour.
All three windows in the south wall
contain early C20th glass. The Birch Window adjacent to the South
Transept has six panels. Five of these show miracle scenes from the life of
Jesus while the upper middle shows the parable of the Good Samaritan.
The
William Marson Window adjacent to the south door depicts Anglo-Saxon saints, some of whom are of
local interest. The lower three panels show scenes from the life of St
Bertelin patron saint of Stafford; it is his chapel immediately outside the
west end of this church. Also shown are St. Chad, first Bishop of Lichfield
and St. Diuma, first Bishop of the Mercians.
Situated at the south-west corner of the nave is the Averill Window. This
window is difficult to see but depicts local C7th saints who are credited
with converting the Mercians.
The
Shoe Window at
the junction of the north aisle and north transept is by David
Gleeson, the same artist who created the thought-provoking Stations Of
The Cross around the nave. It depicts the development of the footwear
industry in Stafford through the ages and is rich in small detail which rewards
close inspection. The design is innovative and the words "May your feet be
shod with the gospel of peace" link the three panels, on a shoelace. The
upper right panel lists names of shoe manufacturers associated with
Stafford, many of which are but a distant memory. This window also incorporates
fragments of the oldest glass in the church in its upper lights and
was consecrated by the Bishop of Stafford in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. The
Duke of Edinburgh on 31st March 2006.
North Transept Windows
The window in the eastern wall of the
north transept has
The Resurrection as its
theme. The central panel shows Jesus risen from the dead while the three
lower panels show Jesus meeting Mary in the garden, Jesus becoming known in
the breaking of the bread and Jesus meeting Thomas.
The
William Johnson Window
dating from 1908, on
the opposite wall, shows the healing of the Centurion's servant and has some
beautifully drawn faces of peoples from around the world. Note the native
American with feathered head-dress and spear in the upper right panel.
South Transept Window
The South Transept Window is a "Jesse Window".
It depicts the genealogy of Jesus. Dating from the 1842 renovation, the tall
lancets designed by Scott replaced the crumbling and decayed C14th window.
Eighteen lozenges showing the patriarchs rise to the central nineteenth -
Jesus himself.
The events of Holy Week are
commemorated in the East
Window completed in 1844. The story beings with Christ washing his
disciples' feet. Judas' betrayal of Jesus and the Crucifixion are also
depicted. The upper central panel shows the risen Christ appearing to his
disciples.
Lady Chapel Windows
The
Lady Chapel East Window,
a memorial to William Cooke,
depicts "the fruits of the spirit". Although it appears to be
lacking in colour, this
window has some very intricately drawn detail.
Finely drawn faces and some beautiful small detail
make the Lady Chapel South Window worth a longer look. The six panels: The
annunciation, the birth of Jesus, the adoration of the magi, the presentation in the
Temple, the flight into Egypt and Jesus teaching in the Temple are richly
varied.
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