A GUIDE TO THE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS IN WALKER PARISH CHURCH

Please take time to view a selection of pictures of the beautiful stained glass windows in the Church by clicking on the photo album below. Descriptions of each of the windows follow underneath.

The East Window (above the High Altar)

Illustrations

Upper Panel

The central figure wearing a crown is of Christ in Majesty. [The Church is also called 'Christ Church' so it is appropriate that this window should be about Christ the King.]

Lower Panels

These depict the parable of the Sower, a tree and the disciples fishing.

Inscription

Thou art gone up on high. Thou hast  led captivity captive and received gifts for men. (Psalm 68:18)

Dedication

To the Glory of God and in loving memory of John Wigham Richardson.  Born 7 January 1837 Died 15 April 1908.

Sanctuary North (Left of the altar)

Illustration - Women carrying burial spices at the tomb of Christ.

Inscription - Blessed are the dead which lie in the Lord. (Revelations14:13)

Dedication                                                                                                                                            This window is erected by the direction of the late Chas J D Christie of Woodside, Tynemouth as a memorial to his three infant children (two of whom are buried in the churchyard adjacent.)

Sanctuary South (Right of altar)

Illustration - Angel

Inscription - Manufactured in 1848. The St Matthew window was originally sited in the vestry at Christ Church Walker. It was restored in the Year 2000 AD to commemorate the Millennium.

North Aisle

(Left hand side of the Church, numbering from the Altar)

Window 1

Panel 1

Illustration - Job

Inscription - I know that my redeemer liveth. (Job 19:25)

Panel 2

Illustration - The Risen Christ.

Inscription - I an the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)

Dedication

Wiliam Tate 22 years warden of this church died Oct 8th 1870 aged 59.  Below this window is a brass plate bearing the following: This window and the tombstone in the chuchyard are erected by his friends as a mark of esteem.

Window 2

Illustration - King David and Jonathan (made by H M Barnett, Newcastle)

Inscriptions - He gave to David his garments even to his sword and bow. (1 Samuel 18:4)

                     Truly my soul waiteth upon God. From Him cometh my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)

                      Jonathan said unto David: Whatsoever thy soul desireth I will even do it for thee.               (1 Samuel 20:4)

Dedication

This window is dedicated to the memory of William Swan of this parish who died 13th January 1872 aged 44 years and is interred at Longbenton.

Window 3

This is plain Glass.

South Aisle

(Right hand side of church, numbering from the altar.)

Window 1

Panel 1

Illustration - St Paul

Inscription - I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Panel 2

Illustration - Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Inscription - He shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom. (Isaiah 40:11)

Dedication

Erected in effectionate remembrance of Joseph Fothergill who died Nov 17 aged 61 years. Also of Ann his wife who died April 17th 1855 aged 69 years by their surviving children, William, Thomas, Ann and Mary and Williamina.

Erected in affectionate remembrance of Joseph Taylor Fothergill Died Oct 1837 aged 26, George Henry Fothergill Died Oct 1837 aged 24. Sarah Jane Fothergill Died April 8th 1829 aged 5 years - children of Joseph and Ann Fothergill, by their surviving brothers and sisters.

Window 2 (made by Barnett, Newcastle)

Panel 1

Illustration - Jesus holding a child.

Inscription - Suffer the little children to come unto me. (Luke 18:16)

Panel 2

Illustraton - Jesus being anointed by a woman.

Inscription - She hath wrought good work on me. (Matthew 26:10)

Panel 3

Illustration - The Virgim Mary with the baby Jesus.

Inscription - Behold the Lamb of God. (John 1:29)

Panel 4

Illustration - St Peter and Dorcas.

Inscription - All the widows stood by Him weeping and showing Him the coats and garments which Dorcas made. (Acts 9:39) Tabitha Arise (Acts 9:40)

Dedication

The above window was erected by Henry F Swan of this parish in memory of his faithful and affectionate wife Mary Calvert Swan who died March 28th 1869 aged 27 years also their infant son Henry Mitchell Swan who died July15th 1868 aged 5 months.

Window 3 (makers Barnett, Newcastle)

Panel 1

Illustration - The Risen Christ and the soldiers at the tomb.

Inscription - I am the resurrection and the life. (John 20 20:19)

Panel 2

Inscription - I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14 & 15)

Panel 3

Illustration - Mary Magdelene meets the Risen Christ.

Inscription - I ascend unto my father and your father, to my God and your God. (John 20:17)

Panel 4

Illustration - Mary Magdelene with spices at the tomb.

Inscription - And early in the morning she came to the sepulchre and brought sweet spices to anoint the Lord .(Luke 24:1)

Dedication

This window was erected by the children in affectionate remembrance of William Swan of this parish who died November 1st 1849 aged 50 years and of Anne Swan his wife who died June 6th 1870 aged 69 years and are interred at Longbeton.

Window 4

Plain Glass with coloured centres.

Circular Windows above the south aisle.

Window 1

Illustration -The Lamb and the Flag.

Window 2

Illustration - Angel.

Window 3

Illustration - Angel.

Inscription - He is risen. He is not here. (Mark 16:6)

The Great West Window

As with the East window the central figure is of Christ the King - all other figures in this window are subordinate to him.

Apex

Patterns containing the Greek letters IHS and XPS - the first three letters of the names Jesus Christ.

Angels

Latin texts mean - The Lod is King (Psalm 93:1) Praise the Lord of Heaven, praise Him in the height. Praise Him all ye angels of His, praise Him all His host. (Psalm 148:1)  Praise the Lord O Jerusalem, praise thy God O Sion. (Psalm 147)

Upper figures

(from left to right)

St Hilda holding a church.

St Michael and the dragon. (Revelation 12)

Christ the King. Angels swinging incense.

St Gabriel the Archangel with the latin shorthand text Ave Maria Gra Pia == Hail Mary, full of grace ...

St Columba holding a church with the latin words for 'Church of Iona'. (He died on the island of Iona in AD597.)

Lower figures

(from left to right)

St Oswald, King of Northumbria who died in AD642.

Illustration - The saints singing and making music.

Inscription - The Lord is King and has put on glorious apparel.  The Lord has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength.  (Psalm 93:1)

Inscription - Dominus Regnavit. (The Lord will reign.)

Inscription - Ever since the world began hath thine seat been prepared - Thou art from everlasting. (Psalm 93:3)

St Cuthbert carrying the head of St Oswald probably being responsible for the care of the saints relics. (St Cuthbert was a Northumbrian who died on the Farne Islands AD687 and is buried at Durham Cathedral.)

Dedication (In Latin)

          Cum me jobes emigrare                    Iesu care tone appare

         O amator amplectende                      Temet ipsm tone astende

          In cruce salutifers.

Dedication (In English) [NB This is NOT a translation of the Latin]

To the Glory of God and the dear memory of Anna Deborah Richardson to whose counsel and encouragement the founding of the Neptune works was due, her brother dedicates this window AD1900.

The Great West Window is a 'Kempe' window ,named after Charles Eamer Kempe the great victorian stained glass worker, and what follows is a very 'potted' history about the man.

Charles Eamer Kempe was born in 1837 close to Brighton and brought up in the Church of England at the time of the Tractian revival in Church.  He had hoped to be a clergyman but while studying at Oxford University it became apparent that, because of a speech impediment, he could not realise his ambition and so decided that if "he could not minister in the Sanctuary, he would use his talents to adorn it."  To this end he worked firstly as an architect and was soon trusted to work on his own walls and ceilings of churches but it was to stained glass that Kempe was drawn and so went to work for the highly respected glass studio of Clayton and Bell.

The first recorded window of Kempe's was the Bishop Hooper Memorial Window in Gloucester Cathedral made in 1865 at Clayton and Bell's studio.  In 1866 Kempe started work on his own in London and as an authority on mediaeval stained glass he became involved in many resoration projects.  His business continued to expand but at all times the quality of the work was maintained.  As well as stained glass, the studio also designed church furniture, screens, altars etc and Kempe himself, designed vestmants and altar frontals which were then embroidered by an order of Sisters.

From 1895 the studio used a 'wheatsheaf' as a form of trademark which was taken from the Kempe family crest. Charles Kempe died in April 1907 and was buried in the family tomb in St Wulfran's Church, Ovingdean near Brighton which he had helped restore and decorate in 1869 in memory of his father.  His studio continued to function until 1937 but soon after his death a 'castle' was added above the 'wheatsheaf' as their trademark.

There are some known examples of Kempe's work in this area, one from 1877 at St Mungo's Church, Simonburn, Northumberland and another from the 1902 - 1906 period at St Hilda's Church, Whitby as well as several examples in Newcastle Cathedral, most of which are too high to see, but there is a rarity in St Margaret's Chapel, next to the bookshop.  Here the 1896 window depicts Saints Hilda, Helen, Ethelburga and the Holy Women at The Tomb.  This window not only has the early logo of Kempe's of three wheatsheaves in a shield but also, in the opposite corner, it has the initials AET - for Arthur Tombleson who was Kempe's principal glass painter and the only person Kempe ever allowed to be personally recognised.  Considering our parish links with the diocese it seem appropriate that Winchester Cathedral also has some Kempe glass which dates from 1897 - 1900.

So next time you have time to spare look at the Great West Window and marvel at the quality and rarity of the stained glass and the illustrious company in which we find ourselves.