East window at J. D. Sedding's St Martin's Church, Low Marple, by Morris & Co. dating from 1869-70. The tracery lights — Christ in Majesty on the rainbow, with angels — were designed by Edward Burne-Jones, as were the figures in the central light, of Jesus crucified with the angels around him, and the nativity below. Burne-Jones also designed many of the surrounding figures, such as St Matthew (lower left), St John with his chalice (top, just left of the cross), St Simon (bottom, just left of the nativity scene) and St Philip (middle right). But there are also figures by Rossetti (St Jude, bottom, just right of the nativity scene) and Ford Madox Brown (St Andrew, middle, just left of the crucifixion, with his own transverse cross); and by Morris himself, who designed among others St Peter (top left, with a yellow cope) and St James, Bishop of Jerusalem (top, just right of the crucifixion, and easy to identify in his bishop's mitre).
These figures are displayed severally on a plain background, something which is typical of the firm's earlier work, and is seen as "a reaction against the more strident colouring and dense design of mid-Victorian stained glass" ("History and Heritage"). But the whole is plainer than it would once have been: it is sad to learn from the same source that some parts "have deteriorated owing to technical faults in the manufacture."
Photograph, and information from the church notes, very kindly sent in by Michael Critchlow. Text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this UR or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. Click on the image to enlarge it.]
Related Material
Reference
"History and Heritage of St Martin's Church." St Martin's Low Marple Heritage Trust. Web. 8 September 2016.
Created 8 September 2016