The Corpus of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Percy Bacon & Brothers; East Window; St Stephen-by-Launceston, Cornwall.

Christ the King.

St Michael representing Victory over Evil.

War and Devastation.

Peace and Plenty.

War - detail.

Plenty - detail.

Peace - detail.

Tracery.

Tracery - Angels playing horns.

Putti - Justice & mercy.

Putti - Love & Joy.

Tracery - angel with incenser.

Tracery - top: Angel with the dove of peace. Note the hand of God above.

East Window, 1920: St Stephen-by-Launceston, Cornwall

Posted 11 December 2022

There is a single window by Percy Bacon & Brother in St Stephen's - the five light east window - which was installed in 1920 as a memorial to the men of the parish who gave their lives in the Great War. The simple dedication is to, "The Fallen". The window is full of meaning. In the top of the centre light stands the figure of Christ the King behind whom a bright sunburst represents the entrance to paradise. Below Christ the figure of St Michael, spear in hand poised to slay the dragon, and emblematic of victory over evil. The outer lights depict allegorical figures with simple captions (l-r);

WAR | DEVASTAION | PEACE | PLENTY

War is illustrated by heroic medieval warriors brandishing swords, spears and shields. One of their number has his tunic emblazoned with the Cross of St George, an allusion to the Crusades. Devastation is represented by more medieval knights, one keeling at prayer with his sword held as an emblem of a cross, while in the background a cathedral burns. Peace is illustrated by music, white doves being released and thanksgiving (and perhaps the promise of new harvests to come). Plenty contains more allegorical figures, one holding lilies and a cross with the laurel wreath of victory, and a woman with children representative of the next generation. Properity and Concord is given reign with lambs, birds and crops.

The upper tracery is filled with angels playing musical instruments and swinging incensers. At the very top of the tracery an angel releases a white dove above whom the hand of God in benediction can be seen (all symbolic of the Holy Trinity). In the lower tracery putti, four with the words;

JUSTICE | MERCY | LOVE | JOY.

The Bacon window replaced an earlier one of c1850 by Robert Beer of Exeter depicting four saints. Circa 1850 window by Robert Beer of Exeter originally in the east window and now reinstated in the north aisle. This was probably moved at the time of the restoration of the church in 1883 is now in the north chapel.¹

A very similar window by the Bacon Studios using the same themes and cartoons, and also installed in late 1919 can be found in the west end of the nave of Holy Trinity, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The window in Holy Trinity is larger, of seven lights allowing the addition of two additional themes of Valour and Victory.

The window is unsigned.

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1. See Cornish Stained Class website entry for St Stephen's