Percy Bacon & Brothers Stained Glass

Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Barnes, St Michael & All Angels.

Greater London, Richmond-upon-Thames

South Aisle.

All the windows in the south aisle are single, small lancets which contain representations of saints. These were installed between 1899 and 1902. The treatment of each is similar; a standing figure with one of their attributes, and a scroll above to confirm identity. Each has a small dedication panel.

St Michael's and all angels, barnes; stained glass by percy bacon and brothers

SA3. St Philip.

SA3: St Philip. 1902

SA4. St James the Less.

SA3: St James: 1902

SA5. St Monica.

SA5: St Monica. 1899.

SA6: St Agnes.

SA6: St Agnes: 1900.

SA7: St Lydia.

SA7: St Lydia: 1899.

SA8: St Alban.

SA8: St Alban: 1899.

The windows are dedicated as follows:

SA3 & 4: Dedication across two windows:	"To the Greater Glory of God and in memory of these windows were erected by his friends,	James Hill, for nine years churchwarden of this church parishioners, and fellow worshippers. R.I.P.¹
SA5:	To the Glory of God and in loving memory of our dear mother Emily Clara Wertling who (?) into rest September 10 1897.
SA6:	A.M.D.G. Erected by members of the Guild of St Agnes for girls. 1900.
SA7:	To the Glory of God and in memory of Frances Meredith.
SA8:	To the Glory of God and in memory of Henry Arthur Kiston.

The St Agnes window was badly damaged, possibly during WW2. Plain glass was inserted as a "temporary" fix. This was eventually restored by The Cathedral Studios based at Canterbury Cathedral.²

Non of the windows are signed.

South Aisle West.

The two lancets at the west end of the south aisle have representations of the evangelists, Matthew and Mark. This is mirrored by the windows at the west end of the north aisle which has representations of Luke and John. Following the same style as other windows, each shows a figure with their attributes, standing in a simple "rustic" niche (the side columns painted as if wooden - a gentle touch), with identifying scrolls above. Both saints are depicted as old men, their symbols at their feet; a kneeling angel for Matthew, and a lion for Mark. The insertion dates for these windows has not been categorically confirmed. Robert Eberhard suggests 1899-1900.³ However, some evidence suggests they may have been installed as early as 1894. For more information, see below under the description of the north aisle west windows.

SAW1. St Matthew.

SAW1: St Matthew. c1894

SAW2. St Mark.

SAW2: St Mark: c1894

On the wall below the windows is a brass tablet, probably made by the Percy Bacon Studios, with the following dedication inscribed:

"To the Greater Glory of God In memory of Frederick Henry Rooke who entered into rest 26 October 1899. These windows were placed by past and present pupils, and members of his professional staff in the Law who were privileged to serve under him from 1881 to 1889. May he rest in peace".

Neither of the windows are signed.

Baptistery.

Charles Innes's Romanesque layout for the baptistery highlights the limitation of Birkin Haward's nomenclature.⁴ In order to identify the window locations the following notation is used:

The scheme for the windows in the baptistery are well thought, representing the ritual of Christian baptism: a mother (St Elizabeth), a father (Zacharias), and their child (John the Baptist himself). These central figures are flanked by Christ holding a child, his hand raised in blessing, and Christ, the Good Shepherd holding a lamb and crook. Similar to the west windows of the south and north aisle, the figures stand in simple niches, but with bejewelled ornamentation in canopies.

BapW1: Christ with Child.

BapW2: St John the Baptist.

BapW2: St John Bap.

BapW3: St Elizabeth.

BapW4: Zacharias.

BapW5: Good Shepherd

BapW5: Good Shepherd.

The windows are dedicated as follows:

BapW1: Christ with Child.	Top: "Jesus called a little child unto him".	Botton: "In loving memory of H N R.
BapW2: John the Baptist.	"Sacred to the memory of his parents, and to the Glory of God: Erected by a Priest".
BapW3: St Elizabeth.	Obscured.
BapW4: Zacharias.	"To the Glory of God: Erected by the children of the congregation".
BapW5: The Good Shepherd.	"To the Glory of God and in affectionate memory of Arthur William Rooke who died on June 28th 1904 this window is erected by the worshippers in this church. R.I.P."⁵

The two outer windows (BapW1 and BapW5) were installed in 1905 following the death of Arthur Rooke, who was the organist at St Michael's between 1899 and 1904.⁶ These windows were gifts of the school chidren, and the priest in charge. Robert Eberhard does not specify the dates of the other windows, merely noting these were installed between 1899 and 1905. However, the Builder article suggests that these two windows completed the series of, "Up to thirty lights" which were executed by Percy Bacon & Brothers. The page will be updated if more information comes to hand.

Non of the windows are signed.

North Aisle West.

The two lancets at the west end of the north aisle have representations of the evangelists, Luke and John. These mirror the windows at the west end of the south aisle. Following the same style asthe other small lancets, each shows a figure with their attributes, standing in a simple "rustic" niche (the side columns painted as if wooden - a gentle touch), with identifying scrolls above. Luke is depicted as an old man, and John as a young one, their symbols at their feet; an ox for Luke, and an eagle for John.

NAW2. St Luke.

NAW2: St Luke. c1894

NAW1. St John.

NAW1: St John. c1894

On the wall below the windows is a brass tablet, probably made by the Percy Bacon Studios, with the following dedication inscribed in Latin (here translated):

"To the greater glory of God.
In loving memory of Frederick Henry Rooke a beloved child of the Church of Christ who faithfully pursued the profession of civil law, who exchanged this life for a better and eternal one on October 20th, 1899.
His sisters and brothers installed this window.
May he rest in peace."

Neither of the windows are signed.

The insertion dates for these windows (and those at the west end of the south aisle) has not been categorically confirmed. Robert Eberhard suggests 1899-1900.⁷ However, the lack of an "in-fenestrum" dedication on any of the windows at the west end of either aisle might indicate that these were installed much earlier, perhaps as early as 1894 at the same time as the three east lancets, and only dedicated in 1899/1900. One clue as evidence that this is the case is a short report in "The Builder" of 17 Nov 1894 which states:

"WINDOW, ST. MICHAEL'S, BARNES - A single light window in memory of Lady Henrietta Owen was unveiled on the 1st inst. in St. Michael's Church, Barnes. It represents St Anne as the mother of the Virgin, holding a book and triple crown, and robed in delicate colours, the window being on the north of the church. The background consists of a screen with jewelled borders, a border in colour also surrounds the whole, the pattern being copies of old glass. Mr Kitson, the rector, has set to work with great energy towards filling all the windows, this being the eighth executed by the artists, Messrs. Percy Bacon & Brothers." ⁸

If the St Anne window in the north aisle was the eighth window to be installed, it would suggest the other seven were the three at the east end, and the four at the west end representing the evangelists.

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References: Use your browser's Back button to return to text.

James Hill, died 7th January 1902 ages 56 years: Report of burial in Barnes Cemetery, Richmond Herald - Saturday 18 January 1902, p2.
The Cathedral Studios website has a page dedicated to the restoration of the St Agnes Window, though no date is mentioned.
Church Stained Glass Windows as recorded by Robert Eberhard. Entry for St Michael's, Barnes.
Birkin Haward: "Nineteenth Century Norfolk Stained Glass", 1984.
The Organist Online website: Entry for St Michael's, Barnes.
The Builder, 5th May 1905, p499.
Church Stained Glass Windows as recorded by Robert Eberhard. Entry for St Michael's, Barnes.
The Builder, Vol 67, 17 November 1894, p360.

Location Map:

NGR: TQ 21454 76078
Sat Nav Post Code: SW13 0NX