Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

St Wenna's Church, St Wenn, Cornwall.

St Wenna's Church, St Wenn, Cornwall

There are vestiges of an earlier Transitional church at St Wenn, most notably the delightful 12th century font. St Wenna's Church, St Wenn, Cornwall 12th century font - Bodmin School of sculpters. Most of the building we see today is 15th and 16th century. The tower is now of two stages, the top stage having been destroyed by lightning in 1663. The church was heavily restored in 1868.

The church is dedicated to St Wenna, a 5th century evangelist who, with her siblings is said to have travelled from her native Wales to convert the Cornish and establishing churches and chapels in the process. There is another St Wenna who was reputedly a niece of the earlier St Wenna, and a queen.

Posted 14 August 2022.

South Chancel East: Christ Consoler and Good Samaritan.

South Chancel East: Christ Consoler and Good Samaritan.

South Chancel East: Christ Consoler and Good Samaritan.

South Chancel East: Christ Consoler and Good Samaritan.

South Chancel East: Christ Consoler and Good Samaritan.

The window of three lights depicts Christ as Consoler, with the words, "Come unto me" in the central light, while the side lights depicts scenes from the parable of the Good Smaritan. In the left light, the Pharisee and Saducee pass by the injured man, and on the left, the Samaritan tends to him. Beneath Jesus, two angels hold a scroll with the dedication:

"To the glory of God and in memory of Thomas Hicks Churchwarden and Jennifer, his wife. This window is dedicated by their children AD 1901".

This is a classic Percy Bacon window with a great deal of while glass, and elaborate canopies above the figurative scenes. St Wenn, however, provides an opportunity to witness two different artists at work. Although both windows were executed in 1901, comparison between this and the second Bacon window in St Wenna's (see below) would suggest a different hand was responsible for the figurative work. A great deal of the works of Bacon's studio were undoubtedly executed by Percy himself, but so far, no information has come to hand to confirm who else worked on the painting. In this way, Bacon was somewhat like Charles Kempe who rarely allowed the actual artist to be attributed to the output of his studio. The figurative painting of this window could be considered simpler than the second window in the south chancel (Christ Blessing Children), particularly the figure of Christ himself. It is possible that the chancel east window was sub-contracted to another studio, or an artist brought into assist with the workload.

South Chancel SC1: Christ blessing children.

South Chancel SC1: Christ blessing childre.

South Chancel SC1: Christ blessing childre.

South Chancel SC1: Christ blessing childre.

The window in the south wall of the south chapel of three lights with simple tracery depicts Christ Blessing Children, and although with some variation, it is clearly drawn from a similar design used for windows in Mickleham (Surrey - 1894), Repton (Derbys - 1904) and Haverhill (Suffolk - 1900).

The dedication reads: "To the glory of God and in memory of Elizabeth widow of Edward Drew, Commander RN. And her sister Jane Hawkley both formerly of Trewollack in this Parish. Also of Elizabeth Drew and Caroline Paynter daughters of the said Edward and Elizabeth Drew". The window was unveiled on 14th July 1901.¹

The window is unsigned.

1. Cornish Guardian - Friday 19 July 1901 p5
2. Entry for St Wenn, Cornish Stained Glass website.