St Michael by Charles Eamer Kempe, in St George’s Chapel, Romsey Abbey. This dates from 1897 when Kempe himself was still alive. It does not, however, have his wheatsheaf logo - the peacock feathers are proof of his workmanship. Visitors have queried why the Abbey has St Michael killing a dragon in St George’s chapel - rather confusing and a good question! It is however a glorious window with rich red blue and green glass, still allowing light to enter via the creams and whites of the central figure and the bottom border. The whole is randomly scattered with monograms of the Virgin Mary - as many as thirteen examples (some partly hidden) of the letter M topped by a crown.
This window commemorates a family tragedy, being in memory of Jane, the wife of George Bright Footner of Romsey. She died in March 1895 and their son Arthur had died just a month earlier. (His window is in the adjoining chapel). This window is listed in the Kempe Commission Registers.
Photograph, including close-up, and text by Liz Hallett, Parish Historian; formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use the images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. Click on the images to enlarge them.
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Created 21 May 2019