Percy Bacon & Brothers Stained Glass

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Marske in Swaledale, St Edmund the Martyr

North Yorkshire

St Edmund the Martyr's Church, marske in Swaledale, East Window by Percy Bacon and Brothers 1897

East Window, Triumph of Death over Life, Consolation of Christianity, and the Triumph of Religion over Death.

East Window: The apparent Triumph of Death over Life.

East Window: The Consolation of Christianity.

East Window: The Triumph of Religion over Death.

East Window: "I know that Thou wilt bring me to death." (Job 30:23).

East Window: "But the righteous hath hope in his death." (Proverbs 14:32).
Dedication panel.

East Window: "For death is swallowed up Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:54).

East Window: Top panels.

East Window. 1897.

East window: 1897.

Posted 23 July 2024.

There is a single Percy Bacon & Brothers window in St Edmund's, the east of three lights.¹ The themes represented in the centre panel of each light are:

Left: The apparent Triumph of Death over Life.
Centre: The Consolation of Christianity.
Right: The Triumph of Religion over Death.

In the left light, Death, represented by an old man holding a sickle, ruthlessly brushes aside the Angel of Love, who is attempting to guard a stricken soul. In the centre light, an angel appears from behind a curtain to console a warrior knight who kneels in prayer. In the left light Christ, who holds the flag of Victory, receives the same knight. Beneath each scene a demi-angel holds a scroll with the words:

Left: "I know that Thou wilt bring me to death." (Job 30:23)
Centre: "But the righteous hath hope in his death." (Proverbs 14:32)
Right: "For death is swallowed up Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:54)

In the top panels a rejoicing angel flanked by others kneeling in prayer.

The subject in the central light was taken directly from a favourite painting of the late Col Cameron; " Death, the Gateway of Life "Death, Gateway to Life" by Sir Joseph Noel Paton FRSA.
Image by Sofi: CC BY-NC 2.0 License. " by Sir Joseph Noel Paton.² At the time of the insertion, Joseph Paton was still alive, dying in 1901. It is moot whether he gave permission for the copying of his work.

The dedication reads:

"To the memory of John William Cameron who died Dec 28 1896
this window was erected by his wife Emma Victoria Cameron."

A brass plaque was also placed below the window (now missing - or hidden behind the altar table), which read:

"The east window of this church was erected by Emma Victoria Cameron, in loving memory of her dear husband, John William Cameron, who died 28th December 1897, and is burioed in Marske churchyard."

The window is unsigned.

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

Report of unveiling of the window, and maker: Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Monday 31 May 1897, p3. See also: The Builder Vol 72 1897 12 Jun, p537
The North Star Tue, 01 Jun 1897, p4.

Location Map:

NGR: NZ 10454 00499
Sat Nav Post Code: DL11 7LU