Christopher Whall, east window (1913), Church of St Mary, Ashby Folville, Leicestershire.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Christopher Whall, detail of east window (1913), Church of St Mary, Ashby Folville, Leicestershire.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Church of St Mary, Ashby Folville, Leicestershire

Address

Church of St Mary, Folville Street, Ashby Folville LE14 2TE

Recommended by

Roger Wilson (10)

Highlight

East window

Artist, maker and date

Christopher Whall, 1913

Reason for highlighting

Excellent example of Whall’s work. 5-lights: the Annunciation, Visitation, Virgin and Child in Majesty, Presentation in the Temple, Jesus disputing with the Doctors. Tracery lights include a tabernacle and chalice, the tree of life, the fountain of life.

Other comments

The window was commissioned as part of the restoration of the chancel, which was paid for by Herbert Henry Smith-Carrington. When he died in 1917 his widow commissioned a memorial window for the north side of the chapel, which was designed by Edward Woore.

On his wife subsequent death in 1934 a further window was commissioned for the north aisle, this time designed by Veronica Whall.

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)