Christopher Whall, Resurrection window (1911), Church of St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, London.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Christopher Whall, detail of Resurrection window (1911), Church of St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, London.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Church of St Martin of Tours, Chelsfield, London (Kent)

Address

The Church of St Martin of Tours, Church Road, Chelsfield BR6 7SN

Recommended by

Sasha Ward (10)

Highlight

Resurrection window in the south wall of the chancel

Artist, maker and date

Christopher Whall, 1911

Reason for highlighting

In a church full of interesting twentieth century windows, this one stood out for me. The quality of the glass itself is obvious, in a wonderful colour palette and with the grid sections cut slightly irregularly. The painting on the faces and hands is, as always, perfect.

Other comments

There is an opportunity to compare the work of father and daughter, as immediately to the left of the above is a window by Veronica Whall showing scenes from the life of St Martin, 1925.

The churchyard is also the final resting place of Brass Crosby, who, it is said, may be the source of the term ‘bold as brass.’

Artist/maker notes

Christopher Whitworth Whall (1849-1924) was one of the most prominent artists in the Arts & Crafts Movement, not only through his own work, but also through the influence he had on other artists as a teacher and writer. He taught at both the Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Royal College of Arts, and his 1905 book ‘Stained Glass Works’ is still widely regarded as the most inspirational work of its type.

Sources:
Arts & Crafts Stained Glass by Peter Cormack (Yale University Press for The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2015)
The Stained Glass Work of Christopher Whall by Peter Cormack (The Charles J Connick Stained Glass Foundation, 1999)