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 Leonards Church, Stagsden, Bedfordshire, Design for Stained Glass Window  (1998)

Signed and dated verso.

Stagsden receives mention in the Domesday Book, suggesting the likely existence of a church here in the 11th century, St Leonard’s church is, however, first recorded in the 13th century, the vicar in 1229 being Reginald de Stacheden (Stagsden). The nave and the chancel of the present church date back to a similar period. Additions and renovations have since taken place, including the late 14th/early 15th century addition of the north chapel. This window was installed in 2000.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Margaret’s Church, Downham, Billericay, Essex, Design for Stained Glass Window

Signed and studio stamp verso.

It is likely that Christians have worshiped at this site for over a thousand years, but it wasn’t until the mid13th century that the first recorded church appeared. The church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, a dragon slayer and patron saint of child bearing. Devotion Saint Margaret of Antioch became popular in the 13th century and there are around 80 churches today that share this dedication from the 13th century. The oldest part of the present church is the tower which dates from c.1470. The nave was rebuilt in the nineteenth century using much of the material from the thirteenth century church. An arson attack in March 1977 resulted in the gutting of the church, resulting in a highly modern interior. This window features the symbol of St Margaret and a red Cross on quarry background. The window was installed in 1988.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Mary’s Church, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, Design for Stained Glass Window (1989)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

St Mary’s Church was built in the mid 14th century but underwent substantial renovations in the 19th century to the designs of Wolverhampton architect, Edward Banks with advice from the notable, Sir Gilbert Scott. St Mary’s is thought to have inspired the church at ‘M’ visited by Borrow and the Petulengroes in Chapter VIII of George Borrow’s 1857 novel, The Romany Rye. One of Gray’s most interesting and beautiful designs, this stained glass window demonstrates the artist’s distinctly modern approach, capturing something of her artistic predecessor, Hilma af Klint’s characteristic geometric style and colour palette.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Mary’s Church, Chirk, Design for Stained Glass Window Dedicated to the Royal British Legion (1992)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

The first stone church in Chirk was erected during the early 11th Century by the Normans, however, the site of St Mary’s church is originally thought to be a llan—a Welsh phrase that denotes a walled enclosure containing a chapel, hermit’s huts and burials—dedicated to Saint Tysilio. The church was re-dedicated to Saint Mary in the late 15th or early 16th century and remained part of the Church of England until the disestablishment of the Welsh Church in 1921. Gray’s stained glass design commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in her inimitably modern style and features the archetypal motif of red poppies, scattered across the three window panels. The leek, rose, thistle, and shamrock roundels nod to the key symbols of the British Isles. The window was installed and dedicated by the Archbishop of Wales in 1994.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Mary’s Church, Penwortham, Lancashire, Design for Stained Glass Window Dedicated to the Royal British Legion (1984)

Dated and artist label verso.

St Mary’s Church, set in the midst of ancient woodland, is the parish church of the Ancient Parish of Penwortham and dates from the 14th century. The church Nave and Chancel contain several memorial windows and tablets sacred to the memory of parishioners who have died; most are Victorian, such as memorial to John Horrocks, a prominent industrialist in the golden age of the Lancashire cotton industry who founded the textile company Horrockses, Miller, & Co., but the North wall features Gray’s traditional design for a window dedicated to the Royal British Legion.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Mary’s Church, Sullington, Design for Stained Glass Window (1992)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

The little church of St Mary’s, Sullington, has laid nestled beneath the Sussex Downs for almost a thousand years, within the bounds of an even older yew grove. The tower and the nave date back to c.1050 but were altered in the Norman period and again in thee 12th and 13th centuries.This small window pays remembrance to the local carpenter and verger. The design incorporates carpenters’ tools, peacock feathers from the peacocks in the neighbouring Manor House who often joined the church services, the Church’s communion chalice, and a view of the Sussex Downs. This window was installed in 1992.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Nicholas Church, Worth Matravers, Dorset, Design for Memorial Stained Glass Window (1978)

Dated and detailed in artist’s hand with studio label verso.

St Nicholas Church in Worth Matravers is one of the oldest churches in Dorset. It was built around the year 1100 AD. Though the majority of the church is Norman, some of the stonework appears to come from an earlier building, suggesting that there was a church here in the late Saxon period. This memorial window commemorates Diana Strange who died tragically in 1977. It was commissioned by her husband who was a keen admirer of Gray’s work and centres on the Elizabethan chalice used in St Nicholas’ Church. The window directly opposite contains another memorial window designed by Gray for Diana’s Husband, John Strange, who died seven years later. Diana's memorial window was installed in 1979.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Nicholas Church, Worth Matravers, Dorset, Design for Memorial Stained Glass Window (1983)

St Nicholas Church in Worth Matravers is one of the oldest churches in Dorset. It was built around the year 1100 AD. Though the majority of the church is Norman, some of the stonework appears to come from an earlier building, suggesting that there was a church here in the late Saxon period.This memorial window commemorates John Strange who died in 1984. It was commissioned in advance by John, a keen admirer of Gray’s work, after his wife, Diana, died tragically in 1977. John asked that his window included the sea view from their home, and the vine of grapes in the top panes nods to the full chalice in Diana’s window which sits directly opposite John’s and was also designed by Gray. John’s window was installed in the church in 1986.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Paul’s Church, Warwick, Design for One of Two Stained Glass Windows (1991)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

Rapid population expansion in Warwick in the early 1800s, due to the opening of the canal and industrialisation, saw the churchyards of St Mary and St Nicholas unable to cope. In 1823 both churches petitioned the Bishop of Worcester for extra burial space, but it wasn’t until 1918 that the Coventry diocese was finally created. A cemetery and chapel, known as St Mary’s Episcopal Chapel were built in 1824 on the site where St Paul’s sits today but was used exclusively for burials. In 1844 the Parish of St Paul's was formed and the church was consecrated on 26th July 1844 by the Bishop of Worcester. This window was installed in 1992.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Peter’s Church, Cound, Shropshire, Design for Stained Glass Window (1999)

Signed, dated and studio stamp verso.

Proposed design for a window on the south wall, over the font. St Peter’s Church, Cound lies in the grounds of the Cound Hall estate and is dedicated to St Peter because of its medieval association with Shrewsbury Abbey (dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul). The oldest part of the present church dates back to the 13th century but it has been renovated several times since then, with additions from the 14th, 15th and 19th centuries.

Jane Gray (b.1931)

St Peter’s Church, Martindale Design for Stained Glass Windows (1976)

Studio label verso.

St Peter’s Church was built in Martindale, Cumbria in 1880 by a local craftsman using stone from the surrounding area. The church is situated in an enchanting rural oasis and has connections to the acclaimed modern poet, Kathleen Raine, who lived in the Old Vicarage, as well as William and Dorothy Wordsworth who visited the area on one of their Cumbrian excursions. Gray’s ‘Martindale Era’ lasted from 1974-1981, in which time, she designed and installed fifteen stained glass windows in St Peter’s Church. These window designs are for Resurrection and Passion windows on the north-side of the church.