Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

North chancel 1: Scenes from the early life of Christ.
Left: In the carpenter's workshop.
Right: Fetching water from the well.

North chancel 1: Left light.

North chancel 1: Right light.

Receipt dated 31st December 1896 for £100 for unspecified work.

North Chancel 1: In the carpenter's workshop; fetching water from the well.

Posted 30 August 2023.

There are four Percy Bacon windows in St Mary's, three of which have receipts specifying the subject matter, and held in the church's archive. Unlike the other three, the receipt for payment for this window signed, "Percy Bacon Bros" does not specifically describe the subject matter or position. It merely states, "Received by cheque with thanks, £100. Dec 31st 1896",¹ or over £10,000 in today's money. A similar amount was billed for the three light window in the north chancel installed in 1899.

The two light window with simple trefoil tracery opening represents two scenes from the early life of Christ, neither of which are specifically referenced in the New testament:

Left: In the carpenter's workshop.
Right: Fetching water from the well.

The scenes are possibly drawn from the Apocryphal Infancy Gospel of St Thomas, but may also be Bacon's interpretation of Luke 2:51; "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart", as indicated by the inscriptions on scrolls across the two lights. It is clear that Bacon had a complete scheme in mind for the chancel when installing this window and the other two in the north and south walls, which cover earlier verses of Luke Chapter 2; Purification and Presentation (south chancel 2) and the Journey to Jerusalem, Seeking the Holy Child, and Finding the Holy Child in the Temple (north chancel 2).

Similar scenes were used in 1910 in windows at St Mary Magdalene, Launceston, Cornwall, and also in New Bradwell (Milton Keynes) and St Nicholas, Castle Hedingham, Essex, though in the former Bacon expands significantly on his interpretation, one might say, invention, of Jesus's early life.

In the trefoil tracery light an angel holds a scroll inscribed; "Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis", ("The Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us").

The window has no dedication and is unsigned.

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North chancel 2: Scenes from the early life of Christ (Luke Ch 2:41-50).
Left: The journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem for Passover.
Centre: The search for Jesus after finding him missing.
Right: Finding Jesus in the temple with the elders.

North chancel 2: Left light.

North chancel 2: Centre light.

North chancel 2: Left light.

North chancel 2: Tracery.

Receipt dated 8th August 1899 to Messrs Hicks and Charlewood for the execution of the window.
Photos courtesy of Pat Bray, King’s Lynn Church Recorders Society.

North Chancel 2: Three scenes from Luke chapter 2. 1899.

Posted 30 August 2023.

This three light window with tracery was installed during the 1899 restoration of the church by Hicks and Charlewood. It represents scenes recounted by Luke, Chapter 2:41-50:

Left: The journey to Jerusalem.
Centre: Seeking the Holy Child when he is found to be missing.
Right: Finding Jesus in the temple with the elders.

Each scene is within its own elaborate architectonic niche.

In the main tracery light, an angel holding a shield emblazoned with a golden heart pierced by a dagger, a common Bacon motif, and in the minor lights, a crown, cherubim and vine leaf motifs.

The window is extremely well executed and full of detail; the fairy-tale towers representing Jerusalem in the background of the central light, and the diminutive figures of mary and Joseph approaching the temple in the right.

The inscription is from Luke Ch 2: "And when he was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem | And when they found Him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking Him | After three days they found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."

The window cost £100.² It has no dedication and is unsigned.

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South chancel 2: Purification of the Virgin.
Presnetation in the temple.

South chancel 2: Left light.

South chancel 2: Right light.

South chancel 2: Tracery.

South chancel 2: Tracery.

Receipt dated 8th August 1899 to Messrs Hicks and Charlewood for the execution of the window.
Photos courtesy of Pat Bray, King’s Lynn Church Recorders Society.

South Chancel 2: Purification and Presentation. 1899.

Posted 30 August 2023.

Also installed at the time of the Hicks and Charlewood restoration of 1899, this two light window with tracery executed in a similar manner to the other windows with scenes within their own niches depicts;

Left: The Purification of the Virgin.
Right: Presentation in the temple. St Anne and Joseph in attendance.

In the tracery and angel holds a scroll inscribed, "Holy".

At the foot of each light angels hold scrolls again which draw on text from Luke Ch 2:
"And when the days of her purification were accomplished | They brought him to Jerusalem to present Him to The Lord".

The window cost £75.³ It has no dedication and is unsigned.

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1. Receipt for payment of £100 from Percy Bacon to cover the cost of unspecified work. Church Archive.
2. Receipt for payment of £100 from Percy Bacon to Hicks and Charlewood. Church Archive.
3. Receipt for payment of £75 from Percy Bacon to Hicks and Charlewood. Church Archive.