Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers
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South Aisle East. St Cuthbert, Mary of Bethany & St Paulinus. 1913.
South Aisle East. St Cuthbert, Mary of Bethany & St Paulinus.
The northumberland Archives holds the original cartoon by
Percy Bacon.1
Posted 03 May 2023.
The three-light window in the east of the south aisle depicts the standing figures of St Cuthbert, Mary of Bethany and St Paulinus, each in their own elaborate niche. In a sub-niches beneath Mary is a narrative scene from Luke 10; Jesus in the house of Mary and Martha where Mary choses "the good part", as is related in the scroll; "Mary hath chosen the good part". Mary kneels at Jesus's feet, hands clasped and looking whistfully up at him, while Martha stands behind, eyes closed and busying herself with the preparations. In the panel above, Mary looks straight out at the viewer. She holds a book and a jar, or alabastron of ointment referring to the episode in John 11:1-2.
The two outer lights contain the figures of saints associated with Northumberland: In the left light, St Cuthbert is dressed as the Bishop of Lindisfarne. He holds a crozier in his left hand and in his right a book on which rests the head of Saint Oswald, King of Northumbria. According to Bede, after being killed at the Battle of Maserfield in Oswestry, Oswald's body was dismembered, his head eventually being interred in Durham Cathedral, together with the remains of St Cuthbert. This is the only known connection between the two. In the right light is the figure of St Paulinus, dressed as Bishop of York. He holds a crozier in his right hand, and the model of a church in his left. Paulinus is said to have accompanied Æthelburg of Kent, sister of King Eadbald of Kent, on her journey to Northumbria to marry King Edwin of Northumbria, where he converted many pagans to Christianity and built a number of churches. The unified inscription over the figures in the outer lights reads; "All his saints shall praise Him".
The window is dedicated to the memory of Ambrose Jones (d. 2nd July 1909) who was vicar of Stannington for 42 years, and his wife, Mary Frances (d. 3rd May 1913). It was given by their children.
The window is signed bottom right of the left light, but the signature is partially hidden by the mullion.
In April 1917 the firm of Percy Bacon & Brothers Limited filed for voluntary liquidation.2 Soon after Percy Bacon set up a new company, Percy Bacon Limited. This window is one of the first to have been installed by the new company.
A three light window with simple trefoil and quatrefoil tracery lights depicts the standing figures of St Benedict, King Oswald of Northumbria and St Aidan Bishop of Lindisfarne. Oswald and Aidan commonly feature in Bacon's work in the north east. Similar cartoons are used at St Chad's, Bensham, and St Hilda's, Lucker. Above Benedict, who holds a model of a church, is an inscription; "Thy builders have preferred my beauty", possibly referring to Ezekiel 27:4. Benedict is portrayed as a young man, and is likely included as Lindisfarne Abbey practiced in the Benedictine tradition. It is possible the model represents the Abbey itself. In the centre light stands the figure of King Oswald in royal regalia, but rather than brandishing a sword he hold a large wooden cross. Above him an inscription reads, "A holy and humble turn of heart". In the third light stands the figure of St Aidan. He holds a crozier and a book on shich his symbol, a white hart sits. The inscription above him from the Epistle to Titus 1:7-8 reads; "A Bishop, blameless, just, holy, temperate". In the tracery are (lower left) a crossed crozier and cross within a garter surrounded by pomegranates, possibly symbolising the victory of light over darkness; and right a bishop's mitre in garter. At the very top a trifoil opening is a golden crown against blue vine leaves.
The dedicatory inscription at the base which may be partially obscurred or lost reads:
Viscount Ridley was an ardent supporter of Tariff Reform in the early years of the 20th century, and leader of the Tariff Reform League.3
The Northumberland Archives holds a list of subscribers who constributed to the installation costs.4
The window was unveiled at a ceremony on Sunday 16th September 1917.5 It is unsigned.
References: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.
- Northumberland Archives Record ref: DN/E/8/2/2/483.
- See History of the Firm.
- Report on the Death of Viscount Ridley: Pall Mall Gazette, 15th February 1916. p3.
- Northumberland Archives: Record ref No. EP10/49.
- Newcastle Journal - Monday 17 September 1917, p4.
Location Map:
Sat Nav Post Code: NE61 6HQ