St. Mary's Church stained glass windows

Examples of the stained glass at St. Mary's Church, Osterley, Middlesex, UK, originally known as St. Mary's, Spring Grove.

This page is 1Mb total size, so will take around 5 minutes to load on a 56K dial-up line. All photos copyright Neil Hawes 2004.

Information taken from "A History of St. Mary's Church, Spring Grove" written in 1981 by Mrs M. E. Lang, from a sheet provided by Sue Martin and from http://www.stainedglassrecords.org/Ch.asp?ChId=11152.

The church is a Church of England parish church, and was built in 1856. Most of the original stained glass in the church was made at the London works of Heaton, Butler and Bayne, at 14 Garrick Street, Covent Garden. Richard Cato Bayne was the designer. Sadly, he only worked for a few years, and the church contains one of the largest and finest collections of his work. He experimented with the new pigments in glass producing the profusion of colour we can see, but the cost was that he paralysed himself with the chemicals and had to return to office work in the firm.

The main east window above the altar "Christ in Majesty".
This window was designed and made by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, the leading stained glass manufacturer of the day, with Bayne the leading designer. The window was donated by subscription from the congregation in 1864. It depicts "Christ in Majesty" surrounded by saints and the heavenly host.

We see Jesus being crowned on his return to heaven, having accomplished his mission on earth. Jesus takes the central place, surrounded by angels above and the elders, wearing crowns, as described in the book of Revelation. The apostles are gathered to witness the ascension of Jesus. Amongst them you will see Mary, his mother, with the beloved apostle, John. As Jesus had died on the cross, he commended Mary and John to care for each other when he was gone. Note the rainbow between heaven and earth, which has always been a symbol of God's blessing. Also, the cloth of Jesus' robe, which is the same as the one his mother is wearing at the cross in the Lady chapel window.

The Lady chapel window
This window was also designed and made by Heaton, Butler & Bayne. The window was donated by the original Patron of the church, H. D. Davies, in 1864, and shows the Crucifixion and the sorrowing Virgin Mary being comforted by St. John in the centre, with the Annunciation on the left and the visiting Maji on the right. The detailed picture below from the right-hand pane of the window was used for a church Christmas card in 2004.

The window in the baptistry (West end)

Baptistry window another view

Another view of the baptistry window with different lighting (West end)

This window was a gift from G. F. Doubleday in 1864. He was a wealthy local brickmaker who lived on the diagonally opposite corner to the Vicarage in a house called "Arundel". The subject of the window is "Motherhood", and we see Mary as the mother caring for the child Jesus. At the top is a spray of lilies frequently users as a symbol of Mary. The four panels, from left to right:

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. When Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.
The three Marys at the the Sepulchre. Mary was open to God through prayer for her task as a mother.
Dorcas. As a mother, she cared for his physical well-being, and provided his food.
Anne teaching the young Mary. She also cared about his education and taught him to read.

The "Harding" side window
in the north aisle by Veronica Whall dating from 1948. It depicts the Good Shepherd with angels.

The "Memorial" side window
in the south aisle dating from 1949, also by Veronica Whall depicting (apparently) the Holy Family.

The North Transept window "Suffer little children".
This window was made by G. Maile & Sons and designed by Arthur Walker in 1951.

The South Porch window, showing the Publican and Pharisee,
is immediately opposite the main door. An original Heaton, Butler & Bayne window, designed by Robert Bayne in 1866.

The West Rose window
is plain glass, but can shed a very bright light throughout the church