Church of St Philip, Leicester

We have notes from Parsons himself on this window and as one reads, not only does one understand his iconography, but we also get a real sense of his spirituality.

“The Nativity group, below the dancing Angels, contains nothing but the simplest of thoughts. It has only to be remembered, here as elsewhere, that the treatment is purely symbolic; that no attempt has been made at the literal representation of an historic scene. I have not thought of it as something which happened once, long ago; but as something that is; as an aspect of eternal truth.

The lilies and roses, and the stars round the virgin’s head are well known traditional emblems. They have all an obvious significance – that of the perfect beauty of stars and flowers; and an obvious appropriateness side by side with the supreme manifestation of the spirit of beauty. Like so many other symbols, however, their meaning unfolds and deepens under contemplation. These, too, are paths.

The Shepherd-boy (Innocentia), on the right, stands for humanity’s direct approach to God through the Earth which is His. He is told in unmistakable terms: “Unto you a Child is born.” His is the way of Nature and the Heart; of humility and simplicity, easy and unquestioning. My Shepherd brings a nosegay of wild flowers and wears a red-brown cloak coma in colour like fertile earth, the grey fur lining of which might be thought of as the skin of some wolf killed in the act of ravening the fold.

The Angel of Earth, bearing corn and grapes – the physical elements of the Sacrament – smiles down on him. She is that patient, tranquil Spirit, unhurried and unfailing coma who rewards the peaceful labours of agriculture, and who, in a season, re-clothes in serene beauty the most hideous battleground. She wears the red stole, representing, in herself, eternal service, and, to us, that:

“All service ranks the same with God.”

The King (Sapientia), on the left, is imagined here as a type of those who pursue the devious and difficult road of the Head, the Intellect, Science, Learning, etc. He receives no direct revelation. A rumour, a strange star – these are his guides. But Reason’s torch can help him only to the gates of Mystery. There it expires, and he must make a voluntary self-surrender and become as a little child before he can proceed further. Then, when the Light comes, it is from above, and not from within himself through his pride of intellect. The Angel of the Heavens, bearing the Universe, is pointing the way. The down-raying halo is his illumination. I have kept the colour of this panel cold in comparison with its opposite. This, the sheathing vapour and other details support the general ideas outlined above.

The Rainbow is the sign of Divine clemency overarching the visible Presence of Peace on Earth. Its seven prismatic colours are manifestation of everlasting Truth tempered to our human understanding. In the window it stretches throughout the three lights – a bright arch of which the golden figure of Christ, the Source of Light, is the keystone. It is my hope that this luminous Figure will dominate the whole design.

Left and right stand Angel Figures symbolising Love and Victory respectively. Love holds the Chalice and His vesture is embroidered with the Crucifix and Vine. He is rose-crowned and flame-haloed.

Victory bears the Palm of triumph, gilded, as it were, by the Central Glory.

The topmost tracery openings are filled by a symbol of the Trinity.”

Source: Parsons, Karl, Unpublished letter