Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary (1498, restored 1872), Lady Chapel east window, Church of All Saints, Gresford.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

St Anne at prayer, with an angel announcing the birth of Mary; and Joachim embracing Anne at the Golden Gate (1498, restored 1872), Lady Chapel east window, Church of All Saints, Gresford.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham

Address

Church of All Saints, Church Green, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8RG

Recommended by

Martin Crampin (10)

Highlight

Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary, east window of the Lady Chapel

Artist, maker and date

Unknown medieval craftsmen, 1498, restored by Clayton & Bell, 1872

Reason for highlighting

The church has the best collection of medieval stained glass in Wales, including much from around 1500. The east window of the Lady Chapel is the most complete window at the church, with additions by Clayton & Bell. The window is dated 1498 and provides good dating evidence for other windows in a similar style across north Wales.

There are original Latin inscriptions under each of the main scenes, including the Nativity and Flight into Egypt, even though the scenes themselves are replacements of 1872. Further scenes, such as the Annunciation, as well as some of the angels in the upper tracery date from the restoration.

Other comments

Clayton & Bell were also responsible for resetting substantial amounts of medieval glass in the chancel east window in 1867 (creating a Te Deum and a Tree of Jesse with a large row of figures), the east window of the Trevor Chapel in 1915–16 (with scenes from the Life of St John the Baptist and St Anthony), and in the north wall (further scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary).

As well the medieval windows and fragments, the church has a good set of Victorian windows from a range of studios, and some rare fragments of 17th or 18th century Italian glass.

Further reading:
Stained Glass in North Wales up to 1850 by Mostyn Lewis (Altrincham: John Sherratt and Son Ltd, 1970)
Stained Glass in Wales – All Saints, Gresford