Annunciation (15th century), south nave window, Church of All Saints, Bale, Norfolk. | Photo: Peter Hildebrand
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Annunciation (15th century), south nave window, Church of All Saints, Bale, Norfolk.
Photo: Peter Hildebrand
South nave window, Church of All Saints, Bale, Norfolk. | Photo: Peter Hildebrand
Zoom
South nave window, Church of All Saints, Bale, Norfolk.
Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Church of All Saints, Bale, Norfolk

Address
Church of All Saints, Field Dalling Road, Bale, Fakenham, NR21 0QY
Recommended by
Stephen Huws (10)
Artist, maker and date
15th century school of Norwich glass painters
Reason for highlighting

This is a wonderfully bright and beautiful Annunciation window with very little coloured glass and much silver stain on white glass. Mary wears a flower crown while the dove of the Holy Spirit approaches her. She is shown reading a book upon which we can see the scored margins which may appear in medieval book production. Sadly, her book has no text, just a series of lines to imitate the effect at a distance. The robes of Mary and Gabriel are both beautifully painted and detailed. Gabriel’s bare feet are also a charming touch.

Other comments

The above panel is part of a larger assembly of glass in the south nave window. There are a total of five Annunciation scenes, surrounding an early fourteenth century image of two apostles. A fine St Christopher wall painting also survives in fragmentary detail, along with a series of consecration crosses.

Further reading: Stories in Glass – A Guide to Medieval Stained Glass in Norfolk by David King (The Lutterworth Press, 2024)

Highlighted dates at this location
15th century (Go to date search)
All artists mentioned at this location