The fourth nave window

The fourth nave window

A looking glass or mirror is the subject of this window. Why a mirror? What do you see when you look into a hand mirror? Principally, you see yourself, warts and all – just as others see you.

“O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An’ foolish notion:
What airs in dress an’ gait wad lea’e us,
An’ ev’n devotion!”
[Robert Burns, “To a Louse” – verse 8]

The South Nave Windows

The South Nave Windows

There are six windows in the nave and we will number them 1 to 6. Windows 1 to 3 are in the north wall of the nave (the left side of the church when facing the altar) with number 1 nearest to the altar and number 3 next to the porch door.

Windows 4 to 6 are in the south wall (the right side of the church when facing the altar) with number 4 next to the porch door and number 6 nearest to the altar. If you stand in the nave facing the altar and then turn left a full circle, you will see the windows in the order 1 to 6.

The windows all have the same decorative features but in different colours.

Each window has a different main detail. They say, “The devil is in the detail”.

The third nave window

The third nave window

This window is situated under the gallery and it is impossible to photograph all of the window in a single photograph which is why the top of the window appears to be missing.
The window shows a pair of lighted candles, a sandglass, and a third object which we are unable to identify but which may be an extinguished oil lamp. All of these signify the transience of human existence –
“And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow …” [Macbeth Act 5, scene 5].

The second nave window

The second nave window

In this window, the chalice and the host (consecrated bread) represent the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

The Latin word calix means cup and hostia is Latin for victim –
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'” [1 Corinthians 11:23-25].

The letters IHS on the host are the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus (see HERE for an explanation).

The first nave window

The first nave window

This window is slightly obscured by a loudspeaker on the right side.

The handshake, or grip, is a sign of friendship, unity, oneness of purpose and allegiance or devotion to a joint cause. The right hand in particular is an emblem of friendship, and the window detail shows two right hands.

The stole that is wrapped around the two hands is a priestly garment that symbolizes the bonds and fetters with which Jesus was bound during his Passion; it is usually ornamented with crosses, as in this case. The stole and handshake together particularly emphasise the bond of friendship.

The letters I, H, and S are the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus (see HERE for an explanation).

The North Nave Windows

The North Nave Windows

There are six windows in the nave and we will number them 1 to 6. Windows 1 to 3 are in the north wall of the nave (the left side of the church when facing the altar) with number 1 nearest to the altar and number 3 next to the porch door.

Windows 4 to 6 are in the south wall (the right side of the church when facing the altar) with number 4 next to the porch door and number 6 nearest to the altar. If you stand in the nave facing the altar and then turn left a full circle, you will see the windows in the order 1 to 6.

The windows all have the same decorative features but in different colours.

Each window has a different main detail. They say, “The devil is in the detail”.

The sixth north transept window

The sixth north transept window

In this window we see another dove representing the Holy Spirit [we can’t say why there should be two windows of doves].

The Holy Spirit is also associated with fire and the window shows flames emanating from the dove –
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”. [Acts 2:1-4].

The fifth north transept window

The fifth north transept window

The main detail shows a stylised pelican in its nest with two young.

The pelican is vulning – pecking at its breast to draw blood with which to feed its young. The “Pelican in its Piety” is a symbol of Christ’s passion.

The fourth north transept window

The fourth north transept window

Here we see a flagellum and a pair of keys. The flagellum was a form of whip used for scourging. It was made of leather with leather thongs and had pieces of leather or metal knotted into the thongs so as to tear the flesh.
The Jewish practice was to deliver thirty-nine lashes but the Romans had no limit – the victim was scourged until almost dead –
“Five times I [St. Paul] received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one”. [2 Cor 11:24].

There is one silver key and one gold key for which there are two interpretations. One interpretation is that the silver key symbolises the power to bind and loose on Earth, and the gold key the power to bind and loose in Heaven. The other interpretation is that the silver key represents “binding” and the golden key represents “loosing”.

The crossed keys are the “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” and are the quintessential symbol of the Papacy as an institution. Indeed, the crossed keys are part of the papal insignia shown above –
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [Matthew 16:18,19].

The third north transept window

The third north transept window

The main detail in this window is the stylised dove viewed from below.

The dove is not the dove of peace which usually carries an olive branch in its beak but, because of its halo, is taken to symbolise the Holy Spirit –
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'” [Mark 1:9-11].

The third and fourth windows of the north transept are situated in the gable wall and are wider and of a different style to the others in the transept or to those in the nave. The same is true of the two gable windows in the south transept.