Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers
Posted 05 November 2024.
This imposing neo-gothic edifice is testament to the talent of its architect, George Fellowes-Prynne. It was not to be cheap, however, costing upwards of £12,000 or £13,000, by initial estimates,1 (£1.5m in today's money).
The foundation stone for the church was laid by the Duchess of Teck on 18th April 1896,2 and the building consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester on 19th February 1898.3 There is a very good description of Holy Trinity by Ruth Sharville on her website dedicated to the works of Fellowes-Prynne.
A great many of the windows were filled with stained glass virtually from the outset, with the Kempe studio taking the lion's share, including the large east window. Percy Bacon was commissioned to fill the lancets in the north chapels and baptistery. Fellowes-Prynne would often design the schemes for windows in his new churches and restoration projects (e.g. St Peter's, Budleigh Salterton, and Holy Trinity, Exmouth), but it is unclear whether he did so at Roehampton. However, it is very likely that he supervised the works.
The apsidal baptistery at the south west corner of the nave has seven small lancets, neatly allowing all the acts of corporal mercy to be represented, the seventh - bury the dead - often being omitted from similar schemes. For ease of arrangement, these windows are numbered 1 to 7 running clockwise from the easternmost. All photos courtesy of Paul Danaher.
At the base of each light an angel stands within a canopy. Each holds a scroll with a single word inscribed thereon: "Wisdom", "Understanding", "Counsel", "Strength", "Knowledge",
"Godliness", and "Fear of the Lord".
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