New Kilpatrick Church, Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire
Address
New Kilpatrick Church, 28 Kirk Place, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 3RTRecommended by
Highlight
“Prayer and Praise” windowArtist, maker and date
Alf Webster, 1913-14Reason for highlighting
I have known this extraordinary kirk for many years. It sits on the site of the Roman Antonine Wall and has a rich and ancient history as a place of worship. Bearsden is a wealthy suburb of Glasgow, favoured by patrons of the arts, who have gifted extraordinary windows by some of the best local stained glass artists for over 100 years. I have selected this two-light window as I love its colour, life, and exquisite detailing. It is tucked away in a side chapel on the south-west wall and is easily missed. For all that, it is my favourite window in the building.
Artist/maker notes
Alfred ‘Alf’ Alexander Webster (1883-1915) enrolled at the Glasgow School of Art in 1903 and the following year joined the studio of Stephen Adam, becoming a partner in 1909 and taking over the studio the following year, after Adam’s death. After joining Adam he rapidly proved himself to be an artist of extraordinary talent, who, as Donnelly notes, “was producing glass which, for technical control of colour, texture and transparency, alone among his contemporaries, can bear comparison with that other genius of stained glass, the Irish artist Harry Clarke”.
Tragically he was killed in Flanders in August 1915, aged just 31, having taken a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders.
Source: Scotland’s Stained Glass Making the colours sing by Michael Donnelly (Historic Scotland, 1977)
Other comments
The above window is supported by examples of the work of Alf Webster’s former partner, Stephen Adam, and his son Gordon Webster. Also notable are windows by J. T. & C. E. Stewart, and the war memorial windows by Douglas Strachan.
The church has continued to add new windows in the 21st century with examples from Eilidh Keith (2000) and Susan Bradbury (2013).
Images of some of the windows can been seen on the church website at New Kilpatrick Church – Windows
Editor’s note: The church’s figurative glass has its counterpoint in a window by Linda Cannon. It does not teach a biblical story but emphasises the importance of friendship. An image is on the church website referred to above, and further image are available on Linda’s own website at Linda Cannon Stained Glass – Julie’s window