Corpus of Percy Bacon

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Boscombe, St Andrew's

Dorset

Posted 29 January 2023.

The two two-light windows in the north wall of the north chapel form a unified theme of standing female saints and Old Testament matriarchs. Judging by the similarities in style and execution of the windows, and although installed two years apart, it is likely that the designs for both were created at the same time. North chapel north 1 was installed in 1910¹ and depicts the Old Testament figures of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, drawn from the Book of Ruth. North chapel north 2, installed in 1912 depicts the sisters Martha and Mary of Bethany and like the north chapel east window is drawn from a story only related in the gospel of Luke.

North Chapel North 1: Ruth and Naomi. 1910.

St Andrew's Boscombe. Percy Bacon & Brothers

North Chapel, East, 1910. Ruth and Naomi.

North Chapel, East, 1910. Ruth.
Ruth holds the implements of her toil; a sickle and a sheaf of wheat.
The inscription reads, "Thy people shall be my people".

North Chapel, East, 1910. Naomi.
The inscription reads, "And thy God my God".

North Chapel 1: 1910. Ruth and Naomi.

The dedication inscription at the base of the window reads:

To the Glory of God, and in affectionate remembrance of the Reverend James Hughes, L.L.D. Curate of St Andrew's 1892 - 1895. This window was presented by the friends who valued his ministry. 1910.

North Chapel North 2: Martha and Mary. 1912.

St Andrew's Boscombe. Percy Bacon and Brothers

North Aisle 2: 1912. Marth and Mary of Bethany.

North Chapel 2, 1912. Martha of Bethany.

North Chapel 2, 1912. Mary of Bethany.

North Chapel 2: 1912: Martha and Mary.

The dedication inscription at the base of the window reads:

To the Glory of God, and in memory of Sarah Ann Ramskill who died 23^rd Nov 1898, also of Caroline de Reding-Biberegg who died 29^th Jan 1912.

Sarah and Caroline Ramskill were sisters, both born in Pontefract, Yorkshire. They are buried together in Bournemouth East cemetery. Caroline married Leopold von Reding-Biberegg in Bern, Switzerland in 1870.

North Aisle West: Ascension: 1912.

North Aisle West: Ascension. 1912.

North Aisle West: Ascension. 1912. The gift of F. S. Crawford.

North Aisle West: 1912.
Tracery: Pelican in its piety, the Holy Spirit and a wheat sheaf.

North Aisle Waest: The Ascension. 1912.

Posted 29 January 2023.

The window of three lights with simple tracery can now only be seen from the inner north vestibule, the west end of the church having been boxed in to provide a community room and first floor gallery, the latter being used as a children's play area. It is best viewed from the stairs leading to the first floor.

The window was installed in 1912 and depicts The Ascension of Christ as told in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you". The scene spreads across all three lights and, unusually for a Bacon Studios design, extends into the simple white borders of the three lancests which make up the window. In the tracery, a pelican in its piety, a white dove representing the Holy Spirit and a wheat sheaf. The significance or symbolism of the latter is not clear.

The dedication reads:

To the Praise and Glory of God, this window is given by F S Crawford AD 1912.

The window is similar in style to that in the west of the south aisle with which it forms a pair. This was also given by F. S. Crawford in 1912.

The window has no memorial dedication and is unsigned.

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

See extracts from the Parish Magazine dated October 1910 held locally in the St Andrew's church archive.

Location Map:

NGR:SZ 11605 91663
Sat Nav Post Code: BH5 1HJ