Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Posted 09 February 2024.

Of eight identical two-light windows in the aisles of St Mark's three were filled by the Percy Bacon Studios. All three follow the same design layout, with the standing figures of saints in the top of the main lights, with representations of an event in each of their lives in the predellas. Very similar designs were used in St Columba's, St Columb Major, and St Lalluwy's, Menheniot, both in Cornwall where George Fellowes-Prynne was the consulting architect for the renovations in 1900-1905 and 1925 respectively, and where he also engaged Percy Bacon to supply stained glass. As with the window in the north aisle of St Mark's, the two in the south lack the usual complexity of embellishment usually seen in Bacon's windows. Instead borders are simple block quarries of white glass alternating with red, green or blue, a style which was most likely influenced by Fellowes-Prynne's taste.

Although NA1 is undated, the two north aisle windows are very similar in style and appear to be read as a pair, so were probably installed at the same time. NA2 is a war memorial to men of the parish who fell in the Great War, while the other honours the next generation of warriors, referring to them as, "Galahads" and "Elaines". This reference to the Arthurian Legends is used again by Percy Bacon in another window in the north aisle of St Lalluwy's, Menheniot, Cornwall (NA3) which depicts Sir Galahad, King Arthur and Sir Percival.

This window depicts St George and St Andrew. Beneath each saint is a scene from their lives:

Left: St George vanquishing the dragon.
Right: St Andrew called to ministry by Jesus.

These designs were later copied for a window in the north aisle (NA2) of St Lalluwy's, Menheniot.

The dedication reads:

The window is unsigned.

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This window depicts St David and St Patrick. Beneath each saint is a scene from their lives:

Left: St David converting the Welsh to Christianity..
Right: St Patrick preaches to the Kings of Ireland.

The design for the St David light were later copied for a window in the north aisle (NA2) of St Lalluwy's, Menheniot.

The dedication reads:

The window is unsigned.

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North transept north: Presentation in the Temple, Flight into Egypt, Adoration of the Magi and Shepherds.

North transept north: Adoration of the Magi.

North transept north: Nativity.

North transept north: Adoration of the Shepherds.

North transept north: Top: Presentation and Flight into Egypt.
Btm: Nativity: Adoration of the Magi and Shepherds.

Posted 09 February 2024.

Percy Bacon had a propensity for conflating the stories in more than one gospel into a single image. Here he follows a long tradition of combining the Adoration of the Magi and the Adoration of the Shepherds, something he commonly did where space permitted. The effect is to balance the scene. At the top of the outer lights are smaller representations of the Flight into Egypt and Presentation in the Temple. Above the central scene, two angels look on with the star of Bethlehem behind. At the very top an angel with a scroll: "Verbum caro factum est".

The dedication reads:

The window is unsigned.

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