Stained Glass of Percy Bacon

South Chancel 2: St George. War Memorial.

South Chancel 2: St George, detail. It is possible that St George has been painted in the likeness of Sub-Lt. Pawson.

South Chancel 2: Dedication plate beneath the window, probably made by Percy Bacon.

South Chancel 2: St George; 1919.

Posted 15 September 2023.

The church was rebuilt on the site of a previous church in 1868 by Fowler Jones of York.¹

Installed in circa 1919², the one Bacon window in St Cuthbert's, a lancet in the south of the chancel (SC2), is a war memorial dedicated to Sub-Lieutenant Robert Henry Pawson. Drake Bn. R.N. Div., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Formerly 3339 3rd/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. (Commissioned 22/11/1916 into Royal Naval Division), son of Rhoda Pawson, of Kildale Rectory, Grosmont, Yorks, and the late Rev. L. Pawson. Killed in action in France 25 March 1918. Aged 31.

The single figure is St George, a common motif in Bacon's war memorial windows. As commonly depicted in Bacon's windows, he is dressed as a medieval knight in armour, wearing the laurel crown of victory. Absent in this window is the usual dragon under George's foot. He holds his symbols of a spear and a shield emblazoned with the eponymous cross. Above the saint on a scroll are the words, "I have fought the good fight". At the top of the light in garter is the badge of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. It is possible that St George is painted as a likeness to Sub-Lt. Pawson.

On a brass plaque, probably made by Percy Bacon, the dedication reads:

Sub-Lt. Pawson is remembered at the Arras Memorial in France.

The window is unsigned.

1. Historic England, Official List Entry.
2. Borthwick Catalogue, University of York. Link to Record.