Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

St Anne's Church, Bishop Auckland.

1846 church plan by William Thompson.
Lambeth Palace Library.

St Anne's Church in the Market Place, Bishop Auckland.

Posted 21 July 2024.

The present church (or more accurately, chapel) is likely to be the fourth on this site, the first, a chapel of ease to "prevent overcrowding of the Bishop's own chapel", being built in the 14^th century.¹ The present church built by William Thompson in 1846-48 consisted of a wide nave, short chancel, north and south aisles, and south porch, with the west gable surmounted by a small bell tower. The south aisle was converted to a cafe with kitchen, toilets, offices and storage facilities in the 1980s. The church is somewhat of a curiosity, it never having been a parish church, with no district ever having been asigned to it.

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East Window.

Centre Upper: Christ as King and Priest.

Centre Lower. BVM and St Anne.

Centre Lower. BVM and St Anne - looking particularly sullen.

Left lancet, upper: St Thomas. He holds a spear and his symbol - a square.

Left lancet, lower. Bishop Cosin.

Right lancet, upper: St Thomas. He holds a partiarchal cross and his symbol - a basket of loaves.

Right lancet, lower. Bishop Butler.

St Anne's Bishop Auckland. East Window of 1909.

The glass in the east window, a triple lancet, was given to the church by Mrs W. H. M. Pyman, of Raithwaite Hall, in memory of her parents, John & Ellen Proud of Bankside, Bishop Auckland (brass dedication plate on the south side wall). In the centre lancet is depicted Christ as Priest and King, Reigning on the Tree, and below him, the Blessed Virgin Mary and her mother, St Anne. In the left and right lancets respectively; St Thomas above Bishop Cosin, and St Philip above Bishop Butler. It is unclear why these two particular Bishops of Durham were chosen above all the others.

The window base is obscurred by the reredos, so it is uncertain whether it is signed.

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1. See church guide; "A Potted History of St Anne's Church".