The Birth of the Virgin Mary
detail from Scenes from the Life of St Anne and the Virgin Mary

Photo © Martin Crampin

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1498, restored in 1872

Four-light window with twelve scenes in the main lights (right to left from top): Joachim fasting n the wilderness, with an angel announcing the birth of Mary; Anne at prayer, with an angel announcing the birth of Mary; Joachim embracing Anne at the Golden Gate; Joachim and Anne blessed by the High Priest, Birth of Mary; Anne takes Mary to the Temple; the Annunciation; the Visitation; the donor, John ap Madog Vaughan, and his four sons; the Nativity; the Flight into Egypt; the donor's wife, Margaret, and her four daughters.

The tracery lights include St Apollonia, the four evangelists with their symbols, another standing figure and angels.

size: 45 cm (width of each light) [approx]
restorer: Clayton & Bell

Church of All Saints, Gresford, Wrexham
east wall of the Lady Chapel (window number: nII)

The window is dated 1498, and was restored by Clayton & Bell in 1872. Original Latin inscriptions under each of the main scenes, including the Nativity and Flight into Egypt, even though the scenes themselves are replacements of 1872. Further scenes, such as the Annunciation, as well as some of the angels in the upper tracery date from the restoration.


 (ObjectID=986 ImageID=6336) Original File Name=Gresford_MG_5705.jpg

Record added by Martin Crampin. Last updated on 27-04-2018

 

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This work is indexed under the following main subject(s):
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• annunciation of the birth of Mary to Anna by an angel 
• annunciation of the birth of Mary to Joachim by an angel 
• birth of Mary 
• dedication (or presentation) of Mary in the temple: she ascends the steps and is received by the high priest 
• flight into Egypt and miracles during the journey  [Matthew 2:14-15]
• Joachim's thank-offering for Anna's pregnancy 
• Mary, Joseph and the new-born Christ (Nativity)  [Luke 2:1-7]
• meeting of Anna and Joachim at the Golden Gate; they usually embrace or kiss each other (immaculate conception of Mary) 
• series of scenes from the life of Mary 
• St Apollonia of Alexandria, virgin martyr 
• the Annunciation: Mary, usually reading, is visited by the angel  [Luke 1:26-38]
• the four evangelists together (author portraits) 
• the Visitation  [Luke 1:39-56]

Show more subjects

• angels 
• ass, donkey 
• flowers 
• the four symbols of the evangelists, 'the apocalyptic beasts'  [Revelation 4:6-8]

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), pp. 39, 45, 51.

Edward Hubbard, The Buildings of Wales: Clwyd (Harmondsworth/Cardiff: Penguin/University of Wales Press, 1986), p. 171.

Mostyn Lewis, Stained Glass in North Wales up to 1850 (Altrincham: John Sherratt and Son Ltd, 1970), pp. 5-7, 41-43.

Painton Cowen, A Guide to Stained Glass in Britain (London: Michael Joseph, 1985), p. 220.

Photo © Martin Crampin

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