We have a stained-glass window in New Abbey Church which we very much treasure. It is a thing of beauty, bringing light and colour into the church on a sunny morning. It was installed in memory of Dr. James Stewart Wilson who was minister at New Abbey from 1863 until his death in 1910, and his wife, Jane Ewing Brown who died in 1894. The windows were a gift from their family. There is a brass memorial plaque on either side of the window giving tributes to both Dr and Mrs Wilson. I particularly like the quotation on Dr. Wilson’s plaque – “Let your speech be always with grace seasoned with salt.” (Colossians Ch. 4 verse 6).
The window was designed and manufactured by the William Morris group. In 1861 William Morris and his friend, Edward Burne-Jones, set up a firm to design and manufacture textiles, wallpapers and furniture based on the natural forms of flowers, leaves and birds. They also had a stained-glass window department. This company was part of the Arts and Crafts movement – a reaction against the heavy and ornate designs of Victorian times. Morris was much influenced by his study of medieval history and architecture and a rejection of mass-produced textiles and other items.
Edward Burne-Jones, as Chief Designer, produced many designs for stained glass in the classical style, while William Morris produced the drawings of leaves and flowers. By 1914 there was a large catalogue of designs from which the panels of our window were chosen. Both William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones had died before the
window in New Abbey was installed, but their designs continued to be used. The main section of the window at New Abbey features the four authors of the gospels, each with writing implements and notebooks and their accompanying symbols. St Matthew is depicted with an angel, St. Mark with a lion, St. Luke with an ox and St.
John with an eagle. (See Revelation chapter 4 v5-8 for the origin of these symbols).
The lower section features events in the life of Christ: the boy Jesus in his father’s carpentry workshop, the boy Jesus in the temple astounding the priests and teachers of the law with his knowledge, Jesus’ baptism in the river Jordan and Jesus blessing the children. Surrounding the panels are representations of fruits in the Bible: apples
with St Matthew, grapes with St. Mark, figs with St. Luke and pomegranates with St. John.
The Memorial Hall in Beeswing holds our First World War memorial, but in Lochend Church there is the Beeswing Second World War memorial which is a 2 panelled stained-glass window, representing two of the Beatitudes. One depicts the figure of Christ with two small children entitled “Blessed are the pure in heart” and one of a soldier being prevented from using his sword, entitled “Blessed are the peacemakers”.
Three former residents of Beeswing who died are named in the window: James Hood, Lieutenant Andrew Christian and Reverend Henry Smith who was the minister at Lochend from 1937 until 1940. During the war he served as a chaplain in the Gordon Highlanders and was killed in Singapore on 14th February 1942. When the church was closed, the elders and community were reassured by a clause which was put into the title deeds, stating that any future owner would allow access to view this window.
I am indebted to Edith McDonald, Elder Emeritus, who wrote a pamphlet about our window in New Abbey, providing me with most of the information in this article.
*The inspiration for the title of Catherine’s article comes from 1 Corinthians 12:
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known
