Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Peter's Church, Martindale, Design for Stained Glass Window (1980)

Jane Gray (b.1931)

Pishill Church, Henley-on-Thames, Design for Stained Glass Memorial Window (1983)

Signed, dated and artist label verso.

Pishill Church is a highly unusual T-shaped, flint and stone Norman church that was built in the early 12th century but underwent substantial interior alterations in the Early English and Decorated Styles in the 19th century. The church is charmingly situated on a hilltop overlooking the Stonor Valley and Hamlet of Pishill, and boasts several spectacular stained glass windows, including one designed by John Piper in 1967. This design commemorates Gray’s favourite Aunt who requested a memorial window in Pishill Church upon her death in 1981. This simple arrangement used acid-etched lettering to quote Gray’s aunt’s favourite prayers against a plain background representing the elements. The window was installed in 1985.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Peter’s Church, Monkmoor Road, Shrewsbury, Design for Stained Glass Window (1990)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

St Peter’s is a small, modern mission church adjoining Shrewsbury Abbey and was consecrated shortly before the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Gray’s stained glass design sensitively yet strikingly reflects this simple site of religious worship in her typical modern-medieval style. Important numbers in Christian iconography are included: three for the Trinity (Body, Mind, and Spirit), four for the material world of the Elements, and so, together, seven which combines the worlds of matter and spirit and is thus regarded as the perfect number. At the centre of the window sits the Chi-Ro, or monogram of Christ, placed against the emblems of St Peter (a pair of crossed keys and an inverted Latinate cross). Surrounding the design, seven fish swim in a turquoise sea. The window was installed in 1992.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St John’s Church, Broughton, Design for Stained Glass Window (1983)

Studio label verso.

St John’s Church, in rural Preston, began as a wooden family chapel for the Lord of the Manor in the 12th century. This chapel, however, was demolished in 1823. Since then, the rebuilt sandstone church has been remodelled a number of times, the oldest part of the existing church, the tower, dating back to 1533 during Henry VIII’s reign. This window centres on the baptism of Christ by St John and features symbolic imagery of music, flowers, harvest, birds, insects, choristers, schoolchildren, and the church itself. The window was installed in 1985.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Mary’s Church, Harmondsworth, Design for Stained Glass Window (1982)

Studio stamp verso.

St Mary’s Church, the Parish Church of Harmondsworth, dates from the 12th-15th centuries. The South aisle, with its massive Norman columns, and the entrance are the oldest parts of the building still intact today. The North aisle dates from the 13th Century, the North Chapel the 14th Century, the chancel was remodelled in the 15th Century, and the tower was built in 1500. In the 19th century the church underwent extensive restoration and a porch and vestry were added but the original Norman font still exists today. This window features a red Cross and a wreath of flowers, and was installed in the church in 1983.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

Church of St Peter and St John the Baptist, Wivelsfield, Sussex, Design for Stained Glass Memorial Window (1993)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

The country Church of St Peter and St John the Baptist in Wivelsfield, East Sussex, dates back to around the 11th century. Since then it has undergone several renovations; the south aisle is 13th century, the tall south chapel is 14th century, the southwest tower was built around 1500 and the chancel was lengthened in the 19th century. Originally, the church was a chapelry of Ditchling, and it wasn't until after the Reformation that the church separated completely. This window was commissioned to commemorate Sir Bryant Godman Irvine, former  Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, and to his wife, and features both their family crests. The window was installed in 1995.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Wilfrid’s Church, Ribchester, Lancashire, Design for Stained Glass Memorial Window (1995)

St Wilfrid’s Church, Ribchester is situated in the picturesque Ribble Valley, in the heart of rural Lancashire, and dates back to the 13th century. It has since undergone several alterations in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries as well as substantial restoration works in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The village of Ribchester grew out of the ruins of the Roman fort of Bremetenaccum and the Parish Church of St Wilfrid's stands where the key buildings of the fort would have been. This window was installed in 1996.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

All Saints Church, Lightwater, Surrey, Design for Stained Glass Memorial Window (1987)

All Saints Church in Lightwater, Surrey was built and dedicated in 1903. Prior to this, services were held in Florence Laundry in Guildford Road as, at that time, Lightwater was a small hamlet. With the development of nurseries and cottages to house the influx of workers that followed soon after, the Conventional District of All Saints’ was formed in 1931. Before this, All Saints Church had been a daughter church of Windlesham. A Priest-in-Charge was appointed shortly after the split in 1931 and a vestry extension was added to the building. This window features a background Cross, symbols and flowers and was installed in 1988.