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Stained Glass of Percy Bacon & Brothers

Barnes, St Michael & All Angels.
Greater London, Richmond-upon-Thames


North Aisle.

Posted 22 October 2024.

The windows in the north aisle are also single, small lancets which contain representations of saints. The first of these to be installed was in 1894 (St Anne), not long after the east lancets and the four evangelists at the west end.1 There are no confirmed dates for the other windows.
NA5. St Edward the Confessor.
NA4. St Edmund the Martyr.
NA3. St Peter.
NA2. St Joseph.
NA1: St Anne. 1894.

The windows are dedicated as follows:

NA5: St Edward the Confessor. "To the Glory of God and in memory of Edward Binnett Kitson. R.I.P."
 
NA4: St Edmund the Martyr. "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Edmund Lionel Barren Spence. R.I.P.".  
NA3: St Peter. "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George Francis Trollope. R.I.P."  
NA2: St Joseph. "To the Glory of God and as a thank offering".  
NA1: St Anne.. "To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Henrietta Fraser Owen. R.I.P."  

.Non of the windows are signed.

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Moving now to the north transept. The two 3-light windows in the north transept are the largest in St Michael's. Both are splendid early examples of Percy Bacon's elaborate 15th century style of painting. Installed in 1895 and 1896, both sport the Percy Bacon "three bees" rebus. The similarity of style of the two windows suggests they were installed as a pair.
North Transept 2: Bottom panels: Resurrection; Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; Christ in Majesty.
North Transept 2: Top panels: Ascension of Christ.

North Transept, North 2:
Resurrection; Ascension; Pentecost; Christ in Majesty.


North Transept: NtrN2:
Resurrection; Ascension; Pentecost; Christ in Majesty. 1895.

 


Placed in elaborate architectonic niches whose canopies soar to the heads of each lancet are the following scenes:

Left Light: Resurrection of Christ from the tomb while the Roman soldiers sleep.
Centre Bottom: The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Centre Top: Ascension of Christ.
Right Light: Christ in Majesty.

The colours in this window are muted, and there is a liberal use of white glass, lightly stained with silver nitrate to allow as much light as possible into the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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North transept 1: Bottom panels.
Annunciation, Presentation in the Temple. Christ with the Doctors in the Temple.
North transept 1: Top centre panels.
Nativity scene.

North Transept, North 1:
Annunciation; Nativity; Presentation; Christ with the Doctors.


North Transept: NtrN1:
Nativity, Annunciation; Presentation; Christ with the Doctors. 1895.

 


The design of this window echoes its neighbour, and was likely installed at the same time as a pair. The following scenes are represented:

Left Light: Annunciation to the Virgin.
Centre Bottom: Presentation in the Temple.
Centre Top: Nativity.
Right Light: Christ with the Doctors in the Temple.

Like the adjacent window, the colours here are muted, and again there is a liberal use of white glass, lightly stained with silver nitrate to allow as much light as possible into the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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North Chapel East.
The final stop on our virtual tour of the stained glass in St Michael's is the north chapel, whose apsidal east wall has three small lancets, each with a single figure, and following the same style as other single lancets in St Michael's. Robert Eberhard suggests these were installed in 1896.2
NChE1. Angel
NChE2: Christ as King and Priest
NChE3. Angel

None of the windows are signed.

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

  1. Report in The Builder, Vol 67, 17 November 1894, p360.
  2. Church Stained Glass Windows as recorded by Robert Eberhard. Entry for St Michael's, Barnes.

Location Map:

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

All text and photos © Alan Spencer, except where otherwise stated; All Rights Reserved