The Nativity, probably by Lavers & Barraud, the second window on the north wall of the nave of St Edward the Confessor, Romford, Essex, Greater London. Although it was installed in 1906, it is described on the church website as Victorian, perhaps suggesting simply that it was one of the original windows. Its main panels show the Nativity, with the shepherds on one side and the Magi on the other. The central panel is particularly beautiful, with a serene Madonna with humbly downcast eyes, and, when closely seen, with stars above. [Click on all the images to enlarge them.]
The tracery figures represent Charity, Faith and Hope, with the words: "Rooted in Charity," "Steadfast in Faith" and "Joyful in Hope." The joyful message is then inscribed at the bottom of the window, and reads: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only Begotten Son into the World that we might live through him."
According to the church website, the window was erected by Louisa Attwell in memory of her parents, brothers and sisters. Genealogical records tell us that Louisa herself died in 1910, at the age of 82. Windows in the eastern part of the nave are attributed to Lavers & Barraud (see Cherry et al. 191), but this one, in the serenity of the Madonna's face, and the presence of the little cherubs, seems more reminiscent of Percy Bacon Brothers' work.
Photographs by John Salmon, and text by Jacqueline Banerjee. These images may be used 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.
References
Cherry, Bridget, Charles O'Brien and Nikolaus Pevsner. London: East. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2005.
"Stained Glass." The Parish Church of St Edward the Confessor, Romford. Web. 10 June 2015.
Created 10 June 2015