The Great West Window in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth, ‘Revelation of the Holy City,’ was designed by Alan Younger (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2019)
Patrick Comerford
This is a busy week. I have spent all day [15 May 2019] in London at a meeting of the trustees of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), much of yesterday involved a meeting in Saint Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, of the chapters of Limerick and Killaloe cathedrals, and Monday was given over to workshops with clergy and laity in the diocese, discussing whether there is such a thing as an Anglican culture. Them from tomorrow until Saturday, I am in Derry at a three-day meeting of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland.
But, over the last few days, I have also been working on preaching and liturgical resources for next Sunday [19 May 2019] the Fifth Sunday of Easter, and Sunday week [26 May 2019], which is the Sixth Sunday of Easter, also known as Rogation Sunday.
Among the lectionary readings next Sunday (Revelation 21: 1-6) and the Sunday after (Revelation 21: 10, 22 to 22: 5), we are provided with an edited version of Saint John’s description of his vision of the New Jerusalem, the new heaven and the new earth.
As I think about and reflect on the images and themes in these successive readings, I am taken aback by the fortuitous coincidence that early last Friday afternoon [10 May 2019] I was given a personal guided tour of the stained-glass windows in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth, where the tall Great West Window is inspired by these two chapters, Revelation 21-22.
I had been speaking in Saint Editha’s Church the evening before on the Comberford family of Comberford Hall and the Moat House on Lichfield Street, Tamworth. But the volunteer who showed me around the windows and explained their meaning and story, was blissfully unaware of my family connections with the church, and he could never have known that I was preparing resources on two lectionary readings illustrated in that West Window.
This Great West Window, ‘Revelation of the Holy City,’ was designed by Alan Younger (1933-2004), one of the most important stained-glass artists in post-war Britain.
Alan Younger was born and educated in London. He began his career in stained glass in 1953 as an assistant to Carl Edwards, working on large-scale commissions including the House of Lords, the Temple Church in London and Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral. At the time, he was also inspired by an exhibition for the stained glass in Coventry Cathedral in 1956.
Younger’s later commissions included the large Rose Window in St Albans Cathedral (1989) and the East Window in the Henry VII Chapel in Westminster Abbey (2000). His other works include the Bede Window in the Galilee Chapel at Durham Cathedral and windows in the cathedrals in Chester, Gloucester and Southwark. However, his major secular work is confined to Saudi Arabia.
Younger’s West Window in Tamworth, which was unveiled by Princess Margaret in 1975, is inspired by the account in the Book of Revelation of Saint John’s vision of ‘the new heaven and the new earth’ (see Revelation 21-22).
‘… and [he] showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal’ (21: 5).
‘And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light’ (21: 23).
At the base of the window are the 12 foundation stones.
‘The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel …’ (21: 19).
Below in the third light, a star: ‘It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you … I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star’ (22: 16).
Above the foundations are crowns: ‘The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it’ (21: 24).
In the centre, above and below the transom, is the city pierced by the 12 gates, and at the gates 12 angels (21: 12).
To the left is the angel with ‘a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls’ (21: 15).
‘Then one of the seven angels … came and said to me’ (21: 9).
‘The angel who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls’ (21: 15).
Above, in the centre two lights, the Alpha and the Omega represent the Word of God: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end’ (21: 6).
To the right is a white dove, God the Holy Spirit, mysteriously at work in the sanctification of the Church. The concept of the city coming down ‘foursquare’ from above (21: 16) is suggested by the four white shafts at the top of the four centre lights.
Further focus is given to the angel as the golden measuring rod flashes across the city.
How little did I realise last Friday afternoon that my visit to Saint Editha’s Church in Tamworth would help me to focus my attention this week as I prepared my postings for this week and next.
The West Window in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth, seen from the Chancel and the East End of the church (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2019)
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