Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark, Nottinghamshire
Address
Church of St Mary Magdalene, Church Walk, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1JSRecommended by
Highlight
East window, Holy Spirit ChapelArtist, maker and date
The work of medieval glaziers from the 14th and 15th centuries, re-arranged by Joan Howson, 1957Reason for highlighting
It is surprising that this large parish church, famed for its Civil War battles, retains any medieval glass at all. But in the east window of the Holy Spirit Chapel a number of fragments have been reset and rearranged. Rescued from all around the church, and brought together in 1846, they give an insight into the original 14th and 15th century glazing. The present arrangement was carried out by Joan Howson in 1957.
The glass is from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, though the two central lights are in a more thirteenth century style. The four centremost lights are made up of complete panels, whereas the outer two are mainly fragments fitted together. There are many subjects represented: Biblical scenes, legendary and symbolic events, saints, coats of arms, etc., as well as some purely decorative work. It is a fascinating puzzle for one’s eyes.
Artist/maker notes
Joan Howson (1885-1964) was a British stained glass artist of the Arts and Crafts movement. She trained at the Liverpool School of Art before becoming a student and apprentice to Caroline Townshend. They later developed a lifelong partnership creating stained glass works as, Townshend and Howson. Howson continued working under the partnership name following Townshend’s death in 1944, working principally in the repair and restoration of windows.
Source: Women Stained Glass Artists of the Arts and Craft Movement (London Borough of Waltham Forest, libraries and Arts Department, 1985)
Other comments
The rest of the glazing is an interesting collection of nineteenth century stained glass windows, including a particularly striking east window by Hardman & Co (1864) showing the Ascension of Christ, who, with the angelic host, is separated from his disciples below by a large circular motif dividing heaven and earth. Beneath this scene the lower lights show the Life of Christ.
Also of particular note is a south aisle window by Alfred Gérente of Paris, installed in 1869 as a memorial to Elizabeth and Joseph Gilstrap, members of a Newark family of maltsters. The window stands out for its bright colours and design. Arranged as a band window, it contains a row of medallion scenes on blue backgrounds in between bands of painted foliate grisaille. In doing so it seems to acknowledge both French and English medieval glass. The biblical scenes are drawn and coloured in the manner of the French decorated gothic period. Those familiar with the Gérente brothers’ work may feel that the medallion scenes are familiar as many are variations of the same subjects used at Ely Cathedral.