Church of St Mary, Denton, Norfolk
Address
Church of St Mary, Denton Road, Denton, Norfolk IP20 0ADRecommended by
Highlight
East WindowArtist, maker and date
Various glaziers from the 14th to the 19th centuryReason for highlighting
The window is described by Birkin Haward as being “one of the most impressive collections of 16th / 17th (century) fragments remaining in East Anglia” and by David King as “the most exuberant and in some ways the most interesting” patchwork of miscellaneous fragments to be found in the county.
Although subsequently refurbished in the 19th century the window was originally set in 1716–19 and is believed to be the earliest such arrangement in the county. The early glass was collected by the rector John Postlethwaite who left £200 for it to be installed. This was done by Joshua Price.
The earliest glass is located in the heads of the main lights. It consists of canopy work of c.1320-40 and is likely to have originated from the chancel side windows.
The 15th century is represented by roundels featuring: two birds playing trumpet and harp, St Christopher, St John, The Virgin Mary and St Edmund.
The numerous heads which are placed indiscriminately throughout the window originate from the 16th century, whilst most of the heraldry pre-dates the 18th century.
In the 19th century four of the panels at the base of the window and one in the central light (depicting the Trefoil Triangle) were installed and are believed to be the work of Ward and Nixon.
Artist/maker notes
Ward & Nixon was a partnership between Thomas Ward (1808-70) and James Henry Nixon (1802-57). Nixon had previously worked on the restoration of the church of St Anietus, St Neot, Cornwall. The partnership broke c.1850 and Nixon was replaced by Henry Hughes (1822-83), who became the chief designer, while also producing windows under his own name. On his death the firm was taken over by a relative Thomas Figgis Curtis (1845-1924). The firm continued for a few years after Curtis’s death, in the hands of a cousin, Mrs Ethel Kibblewhite.
Source: Victorian Stained Glass by Martin Harrison (Barrie & Jenkins, 1980)
Other comments
Whilst externally St Mary’s is not Norfolk’s most attractive church, inside it offers a range of both beautiful and interesting features. These start in its early fifteenthth century porch which has an outstanding set of roof bosses and continue inside to its fourteenth century arcade and decorated nineteenth century chest. The highlight must be the East window with its brilliant collection of sixteenth/seventeenth century fragments assembled in an eclectic mosaic. This window alone makes the church well worth a visit.
Further reading: Norfolk Stained Glass – Denton