Category The South Transept Windows

Jan 26 2014

The lattice window

The lattice window

Lattice window

We are at a loss to explain why there is a plain lattice window here when there is no matching window in the south transept. Was the original window broken? It brings to mind two lines from “The Spinning Wheel“.”Step up on the stool, through the lattice step lightly
We’ll rove through the grove while the moon’s shining brightly.”Or, if you prefer something biblical but just as romantic …”My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall,
gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. [Song of Solomon 2:9]
Jan 26 2014

Saint John The Baptist’s window

Saint John The Baptist’s window

St. John the Baptist's Window St. John the Baptist's Window, Detail 1 St. John the Baptist's Window, Detail 2 St. John the Baptist's Window, Detail 3 St. John the Baptist's Window, Detail 4

John is barefoot and wearing simple clothes but seems to be missing his leather belt –
“Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist …” [Matthew 3:4].

The banner attached to John’s staff reads “ECCE AGNUS DEI !” (“Behold the lamb of God”, in Latin) –
“John was baptising people in the river Jordan when he saw Jesus and cried out, ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'” [John 1:29].

The scallop shell at John’s left hip is a common symbol for baptism. It was and still is used in many places for pouring water over the head of the baptised person. It’s unlikely that John did this as he practiced total immersion. In his case, the shell is simply a reminder that he was the Baptist or Baptiser.

John has his hand and forefinger raised, ready to give out to the Pharises (and to us?) –
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'” [Matthew 3:7].

The JB monogram at the bottom of the window tells us that this is indeed John the Baptist, in case we hadn’t already guessed from the other clues.

Jan 26 2014

Saint Michael’s Window

Saint Michael’s Window

Saint Michael's window Saint Michael's window, Detail 1 Saint Michael's window, Detail 2 Saint Michael's window, Detail 3 Saint Michael's window, Detail 4

St. Michael is depicted as a sword-carrying, winged warrior because he is an angel who has been engaged in many battles, some of which are described in the Book of Daniel and in Revelation. The image of his face on the right lacks any emotion – just what we might expect from one who carries a balance for weighing the souls of the dead. The bottom of the window, shown on the left, bears the monogram SM, for Saint Michael.

Would it be disrespectful to suggest that St. Michael appears to be wearing a rather fetching pair of bloomers? It looks that way but, in fact, he is wearing a long-sleeved, knee-length shirt under the breast plate and over the thigh armour.

Jan 26 2014

The South Transept Windows

The South Transept Windows

In the south transept there are three windows. The two in the gable are of St. Michael the Archangel and St. John the Baptist. The third window, in the east wall of the transept, is a plain lattice window. There is no window in the west wall of the transept as that wall is also the wall of the sacristy.

The St. Michael and John Baptist windows were repaired and restored in 2011 and Colette Langan of Irish Stained Glass sent us some photos of the windows before, during, and after restoration. You can see her photos HERE.

Now take a look at the image below which comes from Morton Baptist Chapel in Lincolnshire, England. It shows Salome with the head of John the Baptist. King Herod looks quite pleased although the gospels have it otherwise –

“But an opportunity came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.’ And he vowed to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.’ And she went out and said to her mother, ‘For what should I ask?’ And she said, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.” [Mark 6:21-29].

Our own window of John the Baptist is not at all gruesome!