Stained Glass windows
STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.
SAXON WINDOWS.
On the south wall of the chancel are three Saxon windows. They are all splayed internally but not on the outside. Internal splaying is a feature of Anglo-Saxon windows of the earliest period.
The windows are illustrated in the following 3 photographs.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
ST.PAUL WINDOW.
The window to the west has been opened out at the Victorian restoration of 1866 and contains Victorian glass depicting St.Paul.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
ST.GEORGE & DRAGON WINDOW.
The easternmost window still has its inserted stone slab and the early Victorian glass depicts St.George and the Dragon. This was no doubt placed there to commemorate the day of the church's dedication which, being April 23rd. is St.George's Day.
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
SAXON GLASS WINDOW.
The central window also still retains its original inserted slab of stone with its small circular light only 7" in diameter. This window is today unique as it contains fragments of Saxon glass found during an archaeological dig in the church grounds to the south of the main building in 1973/74. The fragments were then placed in the window to form a mosaic.
The reason for the Saxon windows being so small is because of the costliness of the glass and the difficulty of manufacturing large quantities in the monastic workshop. Bede tells us that in AD 674 Benedict Biscop imported French craftsmen to produce glass windows for St.Peter's monastery at Monkwearmouth. This is the first recorded use of stained glass in Britain. The local monks learnt their glassmaking skills from these craftsmen and were able to carry on the glass-making tradition at the monastery.
What these windows have in common is that they all have the same features :-
The jambs are upright stones, horizontal stones form imposts, and the arches are cut out of single stones.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE JOHN PIPER WINDOW
On the north wall of the chancel is the newest panel of stained glass in the church, which was inserted there in 1985. It is a modern art interpretation of the Jarrow Cross, and a gift to St.Paul's on behalf of the JUNO TRUST. The panel was designed and produced by the artist, the late John Piper, and was unveiled in 1985 by H.R.H Diana, Princess of Wales, to commemorate the 1300th. anniversary of the dedication of St. Paul's.
www.johnpiper.org.uk
INTERPRETATION.
The blue represents the heavens, the red and yellow represent the Pentecostal Flame, while the green represents the earth. The Jarrow Cross is white through which the light of Christ always shines. The 2 "B's" stand for Benedict Biscop, the founder of the twin monasteries of St.Paul's and St.Peter's. Biscop has become patron saint of Sunderland since the town received its city status.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
