Stained Glass Windows - Part 1: Introduction & Sanctuary

By Ken Green

Although it does not contain many stained glass windows, .St George's Church does possess some of outstanding quality.

The most prominent is the five-panel window in the east wall of the chancel above the high altar. It was installed as a memorial to George Lax Farthing who was rector of the parish from 1896 to 1904 and responsible for the building of the church. He was in office at the time of the consecration on September 30th 1903 and thus the first rector of St George's

The left outer panel of the window shows St George, patron saint of the church, dressed in armour. The right outer panel shows St Richard, patron of the diocese. At his feet is a chalice, traditional in representations of Richard, who is reputed to have once dropped a chalice that landed upright without spilling any wine.

The three central windows show St Mary BV, Jesus on the Cross and St John, who was present at the crucifixion. In the lower sections of these windows there are shown three Old Testament prophets, Isiaah, Zacharius and Jeremiah, each seated and holding a tablet inscribed with a quotation from their works.

Continued on the next page