The Stained Glass Windows
This guide takes you in a clockwise direction starting with the window facing you as you enter the church.
1 (North wall) A two-light window thought to be part of the original 1851 design. The left-hand panel depicts the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist with the Holy Spirit appearing as a dove above his head. The right-hand panel shows Jesus blessing the children. Above is a quatrefoil showing an angel carrying a scroll with the words ‘of such is the kingdom of heaven’.
2 (North wall) This window shows Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene after his Resurrection and was made by Powell of London. It was installed in 1914 in memory of Rev. Travers Macintyre and his wife. He was Vicar of Langcliffe 1864-79 and died at Bedford in 1912 aged 94.
3 (North wall near the pulpit) This window was commissioned in 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. It was designed and made by Ann Sotheran of York and installed in February 2019. The design includes a dove of peace, poppies for remembrance and snowdrops symbolising hope of new beginnings. It was paid for by donations from past and present parishioners together with a grant from the Jerusalem Trust.
4 (North side of sanctuary) This shows the angel at the tomb of Jesus telling his followers ‘He is not here. He is risen’ and above is shown the risen Lord. A plaque below reads in Latin ‘In memoriam Maria Burrows, Stackhouse, obit 4 Sept 1872 aetat 26’
5 The East Window depicts the main events in the life of Jesus together with various Christian symbols. The left panel shows the Adoration of the Magi with a dove above representing the Holy Spirit. The centre panel shows the Descent from the Cross after the Crucifixion and above is a pelican and her young (the pelican has been traditionally used as a symbol of sacrifice as legend says she feeds her young with her own blood). The right-hand panel shows the Ascension and above is the Paschal Lamb. The small panels at the bottom of each window show angels carrying scrolls with appropriate texts which read respectively ‘and they fell down and worshipped him’, ‘and he brought fine linen and took him down from the cross’ and ‘while he blessed them he was parted from them’. Above are angels playing harps and at the top a quatrefoil which includes the six-pointed Star of David.
6 (South side of sanctuary) This window shows the healing of Jairus’ daughter by Jesus. The text is ‘the maid is not dead but sleepeth’. The plaque below reads ‘To the glory of God and in memory of Mary Elizabeth Christie who died in faith July 16 1869 aged 16 years’.
7 (South side of chancel) A two-light window with Saint Mary (mother of Jesus) and Saint John. The window was made by Messrs Lavers, Barrat and Westlake of London in 1869.
The plaque below reads ‘To the Glory of God and in memory of Mary Elizabeth Christie who died in faith May 14 1868 aged 37 years’ The cinquefoil above showing Jesus on the cross was damaged many years ago and has recently been restored by Design Lights Limited of Blackrod, Lancashire.
These two windows (6 &7) commemorate respectively the daughter and wife of Hector Christie, owner of the local cotton mills, who lived at Langcliffe Place.
8 (South wall of nave) This two-light window was erected to members of the Robinson family of Skipton (relatives of Geoffrey Dawson of Langcliffe Hall) and was made by Powell of London. The text is ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.’
There are three brass plaques below reading as follows:
Left: Mary Kathleen Phillimore only daughter of George Robinson of Overdale, Skipton-in-Craven, and Wife of Commander V E P Phillimore DSO RN. Born 3 Nov 1875 Died 23 March 1909
Centre: To the glory of God and in loving memory of Mary Kathleen Phillimore and Francis Bertram Robinson this window is dedicated by their surviving brothers
Right: Francis Bertram Robinson third son of George Robinson of Overdale, Skipton-in-Craven Born 13 March 1890 Died at the harbour works at Para, Brazil 28 September 1910
9 The two lancet windows at the West end are in an attractive Victorian multicoloured design.
January 2020