Percy Bacon Stained Glass; Rockingham, Northamptonshire

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon

Rockingham, St. Leonard's

Northamptonshire

North Aisle 3: St Luke, Faith and St Barnabas, 1925.

North Aisle 3: 1925 St. Luke.

North Aisle 3: 1925 Faith.

North Aisle 3: 1925 St. Barnabas.

NA3: St Luke, Faith, and St Barnabas: 1925

On a sunny morning, and away from the traffic rumbling through the delightful chocolate box village of Rockingham, it is a pleasure to turn the corner and enter a tree-shaded path with splendid views over the Welland Valley and walk up the hill to the unusual church of St Leonard’s perched on the slope between the village and castle. The church itself is a mish-mash of styles, having been destroyed by Cromwell’s troops who occupied the castle during the English Civil War, and rebuilt somewhat piecemeal over the intervening years. It would seem the church is still in peril. In 2019 Historic England assessed the church's condition as, "poor", with significant movement causing concern.¹

North Aisle 2 & 3: 1925

Aside from the characters represented, these two windows are almost identical, so it would perhaps be best to describe both as one, and leave the reader to enjoy the slide show.

Both windows are of three lights depicting;

NA3: Left: St Luke holding a book on which sits his emblem, an ox. Above him a scroll which reads, "S Luke the beloved physician". Centre: A haloed man carrying a brass crossed staff and holding a book, possibly representing Faith. Right: St Barnabas holding a book open at the words, "Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost preached the Word of God", and above him a scroll which reads, "Barnabas, the son of consolations". Above the figures in the tracery Alpha and Omega symbols. The window is dedicated to Leonard Herbert Rees, Rector of St Leonard's from 1904 to 1925.

NA2: Left: In a reference to Isaiah 6;7; Isaiah holding a burning coal in tongs, the scroll above reading, "Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son". Centre: Blessed Virgin Mary and child, a vase of lilies beside her, and "Unto us a child is born". Right: Jeremiah holding a scroll, the words above, "A light to lighten the Gentiles. Above the figures two IHS monograms.

North Aisle 2; Isaiah, Blessed Virgin Mary and Child, and Jeremiah. 1925.

North Aisle 2: 1925. Isaiah.

North Aisle 2: 1925. BVM & Child.

North Aisle 2: 1925. Jeremiah.

NA2: Isaiah, BVM & Child, Jeremiah: 1925

All the figures are dressed richly, their robes edged with pearls. They stand in front of jewel encrusted drapes tied with golden ribbons to the wide niche columns. In NA3, Faith's right elbow and Banabas's fingers extended in benediction slightly overlap the columns, as do the bottom corners of the drapes, giving the impression of the figures standing in front of the niches, rather than within. A similar technique is used in NA2. By contrast, Herbert Bryans (NA1) does not allow any part of his figures to overlap the columns, and his drapes are hung from hooks which appear to be behind the columns, thereby making them appear fully within the niches, and a little flat. Bacon's treatment is more pleasing to the eye, and results in a rather more realistic, three-dimensional representation. The canopies are rendered in paint on white glass with a little silver stain here and there, and the columns are wide, all allowing more light into the interior. The detail in the canopy work is impressive. Harmony is created with symmetry across the two windows, each of the centre lights trumping the outer ones with the elaborateness of the canopies. No detail seems to have been discarded or omitted; even the weeds growing at the base of the niches are accurately repeated over the two windows.

As was mentioned, the north aisle windows are low down and it is therefore easy to see the painter's astonishing attention to detail. It is well worth the time taking a close look to appreciate the effort that Bacon put into his work. The slide show below has a few images of the details. Click on an image to start.

North Aisle 2; Dedication supported by peacock winged angels.

North Aisle 2: Details of the tassels at the bottom of Jeremiah's robes.

North Aisle 2: Detail of the niche painting.

North Aisle 2: Detail of the texture on Jeremiah's slippers.

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

Historic England website: Retrieved June 2021.

Location Map:

NGR: SP 86669 91443
Sat Nav Post Code: LE16 8TH