With thanks to Daniel James Burke at Lightworks Stained Glass, Clitheroe, for sharing his blog with visitlancashire.com.
A series of articles featuring selected examples of stunning stained glass windows to be found through-out Lancashire’s churches
No 1: The Virgin Mary & Child, St. Mary & All Saints Church, Whalley
This modestly proportioned gem of a stained glass window by eminent arts & crafts stained glass artist, Christopher Whitworth Whall, can be found to the east of the main entrance door-way within the south elevation of beautiful Grade I* listed Whalley Parish Church.
Produced by Whall in 1913 and dedicated to the memory of Harriette Sawyer (wife of H.W.Worsley-Taylor KC of Moreton), the window is made up of three separate lights or lancets. It features the Virgin Mary and Child in the central lancet, flanked by an angel in each of the two outer lancets. It is divided into two distinct visual sections; that depicting the richly coloured and beautifully painted figures of Mary and the two accompanying angels, and contrasting that, a simple leaded surround above and below.
The figures themselves are set against an intertwining floral background, a key design motif of the arts and crafts movement which both reflects and marks the influence of earlier works by founders of the movement such as Morris and Burne-Jones. The paintwork is both expressive and subtle and has a simplicity of touch that allows the character of the English slab glass (itself much favoured by Whall for its intrinsically “glassy” quality) to shine through. For example consider the stunning variations of colour and tone within the wings of the angel to the right with their gradients of rich blues, purples and rose pinks, in places all to be found within one single piece of glass. Likewise, when viewing the diamond leaded background, a very fine layer of paint has been applied. This while serving to control the subtle flow of light, does not detract from or mask the jewel like quality of the glass. It is this respect for the materials used and a determination to let those materials speak for themselves that mark both Whall’s philosophy and approach to the craft as well as his technical mastery of it. For a visible example of this mastery, particularly in respect of his glass painting skills, one need not look further than the beautifully drawn rabbit sat at Mary’s feet.
Born in Huntingdonshire in 1849 (died 1924), Whall was latterly educated at Rossall School near Fleetwood, and The Royal Academy Schools, London before proceeding to travel widely across Italy in the late 1870’s, studying both painting and decorative arts. On returning to London in 1879 he embarked on a career in stained glass which was at first faltering. Having spent time designing for established firms such as James Powell & Sons, he developed an increasing frustration at the division of labour between artist and craftsman. In 1887, this frustration eventually lead to him setting up a small studio in the converted cowshed of his home at Stonebridge, Dorking. From here, Whall determined to learn all the technical processes involved in producing stained glass so that no aspect of the craft, from glass cutting, to painting, leading to glazing, would be out of his control.
Having had his works at the 1888 Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society described as ‘the most important’ he went on to secure orders from a number of leading architects of the time. His work at Gloucester Cathedral from 1898 – 1913, assisted by many young apprentices (amongst them his own daughter Veronica) who would continue on to distinguished careers of their own, cemented his reputation as the leading stained glass artist of the arts & crafts movement.
Widely regarded as a kind hearted gentleman who despite his eminence was incredibly modest, Whall declined a knighthood, believing it to be incompatible with the lifestyle of a practicing craftsman.
St. Mary’s Parish Church Whalley is open daily from 2 – 4pm Monday to Friday and welcomes visitors to view its many stained glass windows, amongst which are to be found examples by a number of the masters of the Victorian period including Morris, Hardman and of course, Christopher Whitworth Whall.
Daniel Burke is a practicing stained glass artist and owner/founder of Lightworks Stained Glass, Clitheroe.
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