Whitekirk Church, East Lothian
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Whitekirk Church, East Lothian EH42 1XSRecommended by
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Four light north aisle windowArtist, maker and date
Designed by Karl Parsons and made at Lowndes & Drury, 1916Reason for highlighting
This is a series of four very fine windows in the north nave wall of this ancient church by the Arts & Crafts artist, Karl Parsons.
The Madonna is a tranquil and beautiful composition in blue, silver and white palette, with lilies in her hand. A window for contemplation and quietness. There is a dreaming timeless quality present.
The adjacent light contains an image of St Luke, while the two lights further to the west show Saint Andrew and Saint John the Evangelist.
Take time to notice the miniature symbols and emblems within all these windows.
Artist/maker notes
Karl Bergemann Parsons (1884-1934) was born in Peckham, south London, and, like his friend Edward Woore, graduated in his craft from Christopher Whall’s studio, which he had joined directly from school. Having completed his apprenticeship he remained with Whall until setting up his own studio at The Glass House in 1908. During this time he was able to work with Whall on some of his most important commissions, including the windows of the Lady Chapel at Gloucester Cathedral, and also supplying some drawings for Whall’s book ‘Stained Glass Work’ (1905).
Parson’s time with Whall included attending Whall’s classes at the Central School of Arts & Crafts, where he himself would subsequently teach. He also taught at the Royal College of Art.
Parson’s style evolved noticeably from the mid-1920 following a visit to Chartres Cathedral and under the influence of his friend, Harry Clarke. His sometime pupil and later assistant, E Liddall Armitage commented some years later that “He was an extremely competent designer, an excellent draughtsman and a fine colourist.”
Sources:
Arts & Craft Stained Glass by Peter Cormack (Yale University Press, 2015)
Stained Glass – History, Technology and Practice by E Liddall Armitage (Leonard Hill (Books) Ltd, 1960)
Lowndes & Drury was formed in 1897, by the artist Mary Lowndes (1857-1929) and the craftsman Alfred John Drury (1868-1940), with the aim of providing facilities for independent artists to design and make stained glass windows. They moved from cramped conditions in Chelsea to newly purpose-built premises, The Glass House, in 1906. The firm continued after the founders’ deaths, under Alfred Drury’s son, Victor, until he retired in the early 1970s. However, The Glass House premises continued in use under Carl Edwards and subsequently his daughter, Caroline Benyon, until she moved her studio to Hampton in1992.
Source: The Journal of Stained Glass, Vol. XLI, 2017
Other comments
There is a further circular window by Parsons in the south transept that is described by Colin McWilliam as “The moody seraphim in hot colours” (Buildings of Scotland – Lothian except Edinburgh by Colin McWilliam (Yale University Press, 1978))
Parson’s work includes the exceptional “plain” glazing both in the body of the church and in the tower.
Also in Scotland, Parson’s Nativity window c.1920 at St Bride’s Episcopal church, Hyndland, Glasgow is a stunning masterpiece.
The church has recently been acquired by the Whitekirk Church New Life Trust, which has placed the church in a charitable trust for future generations to use and enjoy.