Abraham van Linge, east window (1631), Church of St Mary, Battesea, London.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Abraham van Linge, detail of east window (1631), Church of St Mary, Battesea, London.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Church of St Mary, Battersea, London SW11

Address

Church of St Mary, Battersea Church Road, London, SW11 3NA

Recommended by

Caroline Swash FMGP (10)

Highlight

East window

Artist, maker and date

Abraham van Linge, 1631

Reason for highlighting

An interesting example of the brief revival in stained glass between the depredations of the Reformation and the Civil War. The window celebrates the accession of Sir John St John to the Lordship of the Manor. It incorporates an array of shields and badges along with portraits of Elizabeth I, Henry VII and Margaret Beauchamp.

Other comments

The east window was restored by John Hayward in 1976, prior to creating four new windows in the north and south aisles, between 1976-1982, that celebrate famous men associated with the church, including JMW Turner and William Blake.

Note also the two roundels either side of the east window. They were painted by James Pearson in 1796, when he was at the height of his fame. The Lamb to the north remains Pearson’s work, but the Dove to the south was shattered by a V1 in 1944, and restored by Joan Howson.

Source: The 100 Best Stained Glass Sites in London by Caroline Swash, Malvern Arts Press, 2015

Artist/maker notes

Abraham van Linge (flourished 1623-42) probably followed his older brother Bernard (1598-c1644) to England in 1623. Both were from Emden, East Frisia, where both their father and grandfather were masters of the Emden glaziers’ guild. His work is better represented than that of his brother, although less well documented. As a result there are debates over the precise attribution of works between the brothers, whose work is particularly prominent in a number of Oxford Colleges.

Source: Bernard van Linge by Alexander Faludy – Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Highlighted dates at this location

1631 (Go to date search)