M. E. Aldrich Rope, north aisle window (1959), Church of Saint Peter & Saint Paul, Bromley, London.

Photo: Arthur Rope

M. E. Aldrich Rope, detail of north aisle window (1959), Church of Saint Peter & Saint Paul, Bromley, London.

Photo: Arthur Rope

Church of Saint Peter & Saint Paul, Bromley, London (Kent)

Address

Church of Saint Peter & Saint Paul, Church Road, Bromley, BR2 0EG

Theme

The Two Margaret Ropes (10)

Overview

The cousins Margaret Agnes Rope (1882-1953) of Shrewsbury (professional name: Margaret Rope, later Sister Margaret of the Mother of God) and Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope (1891-1988) of Leiston (professional name M E A Rope or M E Aldrich Rope) were prominent international stained-glass artists in the Arts & Crafts idiom. Their work can be seen in many churches and other buildings in England, Scotland and Wales as well as in Australia, Italy, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and the USA.

Although their lives and styles diverged, they worked together at the start of their careers and again right at the end of the elder Margaret’s life.

Highlight

East, North and Children’s chapel

Artist, maker and date

M.E. Aldrich Rope, 1953-59

Reason for highlighting

Installed in the new church, which replaced the building destroyed in the Bromley Blitz, they are examples of M.E. Aldrich Rope’s emerging later style. The Praise window in the north aisle is particularly fine.

Other comments

The Baptistery window, 1958, by M.E. Aldrich Rope’s pupil Clare Dawson is an interesting design, showing her following on from her teacher’s style

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Artist/maker notes

Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope (1891-1988) was born in Suffolk and studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Central School of Arts & Crafts, where she specialised in stained glass under Karl Parsons and Alfred J Drury. More prolific but less intense than her cousin, her style evolved considerably during her career, from one somewhat similar to her cousin’s to something plainer and more impressionistic.

Further reading:
The Margaret Rope Stained glass website
Margaret Rope of Leiston: Arts and Crafts Stained Glass Artist by Arthur Rope (Blurb, 2017)

Highlighted dates at this location

1953-59 (Go to date search)

All artists mentioned at this location

Rope, Margaret Edith Aldrich