Stained Glass of Percy Bacon

St Andrew's Church, Churchdown, Gloucestershire.

St Andrew's Church and Community Centre, Churchdown

Pevsner describes Churchdown as, "Mostly dreary suburbia, between Gloucester and Cheltenham",¹ a sentiment one cannot but agree with. Although the parish is ancient, most if not all that was medieval is lost, though an archeological excavation carried out in 2000 next to St Andrew's Church prior to the construction of the community centre, late Saxon features were discovered, including a post hole and pottery of that period. The nearby Cotswold outlier of Churchdown, or Chosen Hill has evidence of an Iron Age fort, Roman occupation (possibly a temple) and the extant 14th century church of St Bartholomew which was preceded by Saxon and then Norman churches.

St Andrew's was originally built in 1903/4 by Walter B. Wood as a chapel of ease for St Bartholomew's, doubtless much to the relief of the congregation of the village who would previously have had to trudge the mile or so and 130 metres climb up Chosen Hill in all weathers and on badly deteriorated paths to attend services. For some 30 years the school room was used for divine service due to these difficulties. The north west porch was added in 1964, though the entrance to the church is now via the community centre. Inside is modern and there is little of any special interest. In the chancel north and south walls there is glass by Powell & Sons (1934) and an interesting set of three lancets in the nave by Edward E. Payne depicting incidents from local history, installed between 1961 and 1978.² The east window by Percy Bacon is described below.

St Andrew's Churchdown, East Window.

St Andrew's Churchdown, East Window.

St Andrew's Churchdown, East Window.

St Andrew's Churchdown, East Window.

St Andrew's Churchdown, East Window tracery

East Window by Percy Bacon & Brothers

There is a single Bacon window in St Andrew's, the east, a war memorial dedicated to the memory of two local men, Captain George Eric Cardew, MC, and Captain Ralph Streatfeild James, DSO, who lost their lives in the great war. It was placed there by the late Mr. H. M. Cardew, Mr. C. Streatfeild-James, two former Churchwardens, their families and friends, in memory of their sons.³

As with many of Bacon's memorial windows St Michael and St George are depicted as symbols of triumph and courage. The central two lights forming a unified scene, depicts Jesus calling the disciples from their fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. St Michael holds a flaming sword and shield. His breast plate sports an Agnes Dei and his apron an image of Christ the King. St George, also in armour holds a lance and shield emblazoned with his cross. In the top tracery a demi Christ in majesty, and in the trefoil openings the flags of Belgium, United Kingdom, France and one other. This latter may represent the Netherlands, but the banding is out of order for that country's flag.

1. Brooks, A. & Verey, D: The Buildings of England, Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and Forest of Dean (Pevsner series). p301
2. Ibid.
3. Cooke, J J D. Churchdown Through the Ages, 1939, p77.