Corpus of Percy Bacon

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Mawgan-in-Pydar, St Mawgan

Cornwall

St Mawgan, Magan-in-Pydar, Cornwall.

St Mawgan, Mawgan-in-Pydar

Posted 14 September 2022.

St Mawgan's (or St Mawcan's) stands in a wooded valley on a rise, unapologetically large, above the River Menalhyl, close by the house once occupied by the Arundell family, now a Carmalite Convent. The church could rightly be described as having a "double nave", both full length and both with chancels and wagon roofs. The tower is lofty, and offset to the south. There is a fine polychrome rood screen with fan vaults springing from the columns, and carved bench ends thought ot be c15. Butterfield carried out extensive repairs and restoration in 1861. The chancel and vestry were rebuilt at the expense of the Rector, all roofs replaced, and several new windows installed. The main walls and tower were preserved in their original form. The south side was reported to have been, "excessively buried", and had to be excavated to make the building dry having been described as, "one of the dampest and vault-like in the county of Cornwall".¹

Chancel East Window 1902: Design by George Fellowes-Prynne

St Mawgan, Mawgan-in-Pydar, East Window. 1902.

King Alfred.

St James the Great with pilgrim's gourd and staff.

Christ administering the Eucharist

St Peter.

St George.

St Paul.

St Patrick.

Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Augustine as Archbishop of Canterbury.

St. Columba.

Tracery Detail.

Detail: King Alfred.

Detail: St. Paul.

Detail: St. Patrick.

Detail: St. Augustine.

Detail: Blessed Virgin Mary.

Chancel East Window

Posted 14 September 2022.

The window is dedicated to Revd George Perrin, rector of St Mawgan-in-Pydar 1874–1901, died 2nd August 1901 in a cycling accident in Switzerland². It is of five lights, Christ administering the Eucharist occupying the central light with the BVM below. In the outer lights stand the figures of saints and kings;

Top Row:
King Alfred | St James | Christ | St Peter | St George

Bottom Row:
St Paul | St Patrick | BVM | St Augustine | St Columba

At the top of the soaring elaborate niches in which the figures stand, angels play instruments

In the tracery: Top: An angel holds a scroll, ""requiescat in pace, requiescat in gloria", and below the symbols of the Four Evangelists. Lower still Alpha and Omega symbols and IHS and XPI monograms.

The window is also dedicated to Nicholas James, Churchwarden of St Mawgan's 1870 - 1901.

The window is unsigned.

North Nave 1: 1906: St Anne, Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, St Joseph

North Nave 1: 1906: St Anne, Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, St Joseph. St Anne.

Blessed Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus.

St Joseph

Tracery.

BVM & Child detail: It is possible that Jesus is the likeness of a real child.

St Anne detail.

North Nave 1: St Anne, BVM & Child, and St Joseph

Posted 14 September 2022.

The window of three lights depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, flanked by St Ann, mother of Mary to the left and St Joseph to the right. In the simple tracery angels in adoration and playing musical instruments.

Above each figure a scroll containing the words from Isaiah 7:14:

St Anne; "Behold a Virgin shall conceive.."
BVM: "..and bear a son.."
Joseph: "..and shall call his name Emmanuel".

The dedication reads:

To the glory of God and in loving memory of Sampson Lewarne and Ann his wife neé Vivian who entered into rest Dec^br 11^th and December 14^th 1858 their elder grandchildren 1905.

Window colours are muted and soft, with much use of white glass. Each figure occupies the full width of the light and stands under an elaborate canopy which seems to float as there are no side columns. St Ann is depicted as an old woman looking somewhat forlorn, The Virgin holds the infant Jesus who may have been painted as the likeness of a real child (see also Duloe).

On the wall in the church is a framed sketch Original sketch of the central light by Percy Bacon. of the central light signed and dated by Percy Bacon ( P Haydon Bacon 1906). Side by side comparison. Original sketch of the central light by Percy Bacon compared with the finished window.

The window itself is unsigned.

References: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.

Royal Cornwall Gazette - Friday 02 August 1861. p2: Report on consecration of the reopened church.
Reading Mercury - Saturday 10 August 1901; p2. Report on the death of Rev George Perrin

Location Map:

NGR: SW 87229 65945
Sat Nav Post Code: TR8 4EP