Stained Glass Windows - St Benedict - Glastonbury, Somerset - Stained Glass Windows on Waymarking.com

Stained glass windows in St Benedict's church, Glastonbury.

"Until the time of Queen Victoria very few people could write, so Bible stories were made into stained glass windows which everyone could understand. The original windows in St. Benedict’s were replaced by the present ones around 1840 when the church was re-ordered.

In the window above the main altar we are reminded of the fundamentals of the creed: Christ incarnate of the virgin Mary, crucified while the ladies kept their vigil, rose again according to the scriptures with the two Marys addressed by the angel.

The Lady Chapel contains four lovely windows. They show the four Gospel writers and their trades or professions:

1. Matthew the tax collector. The angel with a scroll reminds us of the opening genealogy to the gospel which the Angel has inscribed on the scroll.

2. Mark, who was the first to write a Gospel. He came from the family of Ezekiel. The lion in the corner symbolises Ezekiel’s vision of “a lion at his feet”.

3. Luke, who was not a disciple and to our knowledge never saw Jesus. He was however commissioned to research the life of Christ. Luke’s gospel begins with Zechariah the priest who would have made sacrifices according to the law which included an ox seen beside him.

4. John, who has a young face with no beard. Beside is the eagle to symbolise the carrying of the gospel to all, reminding us of his Gospel’s opening words: “In the beginning was the word”.

Directly south of the pulpit are two story windows: the changing of water into wine and the raising of Lazarus. The clothes are typical of French gentlewomen around AD 1300.

The other window in the South Aisle contains three panels: Faith, Charity, Hope.

The two windows on the main part of the south aisle were donated by members of the Holman family. Starting from the right the first window contains three panels:

1. Joseph of Arimathea holding a staff from which the Holy Thorn is growing. Slips of this tree – which can still be seen in bloom at Christmas – have grown into mature trees in the Abbey, outside St. John’s Church, and on Wearyall Hill. Also, a cutting is growing in the churchyard at the west end of the church.

2. St Paul

3. Dorcas, who was raised from the dead by Peter. (Acts 9:36 – 43).
Note her sewing in one hand and her other arm shaped as though to carry children; also the basket of loaves in the bottom right hand corner.

Lastly looking westwards to the tower there is a window depicting Jesus addressing his followers beside the lake. When the sun sets behind the window the fish seem to gleam and the sea of Galilee comes to life."

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Type of building where window is located: Church Address: St Benedict Benedict Street Glastonbury, Somerset England BA6 9NB Days of Operation: Daytime hours Hours of Operation: From: 12:00 AM To: 12:00 AM Admission Charge: Not Listed

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