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We would like to introduce you to an exciting new project: a new stained glass window in memory of Sir Winston Churchill, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death.
St Martin's Church in Bladon has the honour of being the last resting place of Sir Winston Churchill, visited by thousands of people each year. 2015 will mark 50 years since his death. Sir Winston has a simple family grave, in accordance with his wishes.
Why a window? There is currently no memorial to Sir Winston inside the Church and it is felt that it is only appropriate that this major milestone is marked by a suitably impressive and permanent memorial: a new stained glass window on the South side of our Church. Work upon the design has been ongoing for some time, and we can now unveil the final design, seen here to the left, complete with photographs showing the window in construction. Emma Blount, a young stained glass award-winning artist with work in Churches in the USA and Britain, has designed a window which reflects our Christian heritage and is a subtle tribute to our greatest of men. The Design The design for the Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Window is intended to fit seamlessly into the existing St Martin’s Church architecture: the design reflecting the existing Spencer- Churchill window, with the same font, and a sympathetic visual design. The main figures are St Martin and St Alban. St Martin is not currently represented in his Church. He is, appropriately, the patron saint of soldiers. St Alban is an appropriate choice for the second saint as the British protomartyr and as a famous English saint. |
The Detail
The design is crowned by Sir Winston’s coat of arms. The window is thereafter divided into two “lights”, one for each saint, and fitting in with the existing tracery.
The left hand “St Martin” light, features the cap badge of the Queen’s Own 4th Hussars. Vines and grapes form the background; St Martin is the patron saint of vintners. At the foot of the light is a vignette of Sir Winston touring a wartime dockyard, cheered by the workers.
The right hand “St Alban” light features the badges of the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars, the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the cap badge for the Harrow Rifles are at the top of each light. Thus all four of Sir Winston’s most important military units are represented. The Harrow Rifles badge is a counterpoint to the Eton badge in the existing Spencer- Churchill window. The footing of this light shows Sir Winston, Montgomery and Alanbrooke on the banks of the Rhine.
The border symbols include: a butterfly (for those at Chartwell,) Spitfire, a book written by Sir Winston, Sir Winston playing polo, Jock the cat, Rufus the poodle, Sir Winston’s bow tie, the portcullis of the House of Commons, two men fencing to represent Sir Winston’s fencing prowess, the Union Jack in black and white, “Come into the Factories” poster, an evacuee child with a label and a suitcase, the Stars and Stripes in colour, poppies in red, a tank, a gas mask, St George’s flag in colour, the V for Victory salute, tin hat, painting brushes, car, Sir Winston’s racing colours, a soldier, Pol Roger champagne, black swan, ink pen, “Liberator” Commando, WSC’s profile with cigar, Nobel Literature prize, and an image of barbed wire broken to represent Sir Winston’s escape from a Boer prisoner of war camp.
Running throughout the coloured background to both lights are many quotations from Sir Winston’s speeches, writings and “bon mots”. All images and quotations have been verified: they are all reliable and, we feel, appropriate, referencing Sir Winston’s career and humanity. They will offer an education to visitors as they consider each aspect of the window.
If you would like further information please contact Robert Courts on:
[email protected] or +447799 417291.
St Martin’s Church PCC
The design is crowned by Sir Winston’s coat of arms. The window is thereafter divided into two “lights”, one for each saint, and fitting in with the existing tracery.
The left hand “St Martin” light, features the cap badge of the Queen’s Own 4th Hussars. Vines and grapes form the background; St Martin is the patron saint of vintners. At the foot of the light is a vignette of Sir Winston touring a wartime dockyard, cheered by the workers.
The right hand “St Alban” light features the badges of the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars, the 6th Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the cap badge for the Harrow Rifles are at the top of each light. Thus all four of Sir Winston’s most important military units are represented. The Harrow Rifles badge is a counterpoint to the Eton badge in the existing Spencer- Churchill window. The footing of this light shows Sir Winston, Montgomery and Alanbrooke on the banks of the Rhine.
The border symbols include: a butterfly (for those at Chartwell,) Spitfire, a book written by Sir Winston, Sir Winston playing polo, Jock the cat, Rufus the poodle, Sir Winston’s bow tie, the portcullis of the House of Commons, two men fencing to represent Sir Winston’s fencing prowess, the Union Jack in black and white, “Come into the Factories” poster, an evacuee child with a label and a suitcase, the Stars and Stripes in colour, poppies in red, a tank, a gas mask, St George’s flag in colour, the V for Victory salute, tin hat, painting brushes, car, Sir Winston’s racing colours, a soldier, Pol Roger champagne, black swan, ink pen, “Liberator” Commando, WSC’s profile with cigar, Nobel Literature prize, and an image of barbed wire broken to represent Sir Winston’s escape from a Boer prisoner of war camp.
Running throughout the coloured background to both lights are many quotations from Sir Winston’s speeches, writings and “bon mots”. All images and quotations have been verified: they are all reliable and, we feel, appropriate, referencing Sir Winston’s career and humanity. They will offer an education to visitors as they consider each aspect of the window.
If you would like further information please contact Robert Courts on:
[email protected] or +447799 417291.
St Martin’s Church PCC