Church of St Michael and All Angels, Orpington, London BR6
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Church of St Michael and All Angels, 370 Crofton Road, Orpington BR6 8NNRecommended by
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West windowArtist, maker and date
Róisín Dowd Murphy, made at Murphy-Devitt Studios, Dublin 1964Reason for highlighting
This particularly distinctive window is one of several by Róisín Dowd Murphy in St Michael’s Church and shows her talent for expressive painting on glass. It is important to note that although the work is by Dowd Murphy, the initial concept and small-sale design is by her husband, Johnny Murphy; this was not unusual, with both collaborating on windows regularly, often seamlessly. The proportions of this window are particularly striking – and challenging from a creative standpoint – being 30ft high by a mere 3ft wide. The solution was to depict St Michael attempting to lance Lucifer who, upside down, is hurtling downwards, with the archangel gaining leverage by using his right foot to force down grimacing Lucifer. It’s a dramatic portrayal of the triumph of good over evil, and to add further drama the background, which is entirely filled with flames, gradually transitions from bright orange (a favourite colour of Murphy-Devitt Studios in the 60s and 70s) to blood red towards the base. Reiltín Murphy, daughter of both artists, recalled that her mother was particularly proud of this and the other windows she created for St Michael’s Church.
Artist/maker notes
Róisín Dowd Murphy (1923–2006) was born in Belfast and studied painting at Dublin’s National College of Art and Design where she met her future husband, Johnny Murphy. In 1955 Johnny joined forces with master glazier Des Devitt – both had worked at Harry Clarke’s studio – to establish Murphy-Devitt Studios, Dublin, and soon Róisín began work in the studio too, acquiring the requisite skills from her husband. Their daughter, Reiltín Murphy, summed up her mother’s windows as being ‘full of colour and movement, vigour and life. Róisín loved the Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo and Botticelli… her windows give a moment in time: her saints are real people with busy lives, her images are “snapshots” rather than “icons”. Róisín was never happier than when she was covered in charcoal while drawing a full-size cartoon, or, covered with pigment, painting those figures and details into glass.’ (quoted in the Gazetteer of Irish Stained Glass, see below).
Murphy-Devitt Studios enjoyed considerable success, particularly in the decades of peak Catholic church construction in Ireland, but closed in 1980 due to fewer churches being built, however Johnny and Róisín, and Des Devitt too, continued to work together until 2005 after the Murphy family had relocated to County Wexford. Johnny Murphy, Róisín Dowd Murphy and Des Devitt all died in 2006.
Source: David Caron (ed) Gazetteer of Irish Stained Glass (Irish Academic Press, 2021)
Other comments
The church includes other windows by Róisín Dowd Murphy: The Annunciation, The Nativity, The Agony in the Garden, The Assumption (all 3-lights), and The Holy Spirit (single light). All windows were made at Murphy-Devitt Studios, Dublin, in 1964.