 Wollaton
St Leonard
Glass
Click the numbers in the key plan for details of the items.
There is no evidence of stained glass before the 19th century. There are now seven windows, installed between c1886 and 1972, four by C.E. Kempe, two by Christopher Whall and one by John Hardman Studios.
Chancel
1.
The north window of the chancel depicts St Michael and St George and is by Christopher Whall.
Kempe's succession of windows was interrupted at this point. Although James Russell was the eldest surviving son of the Revd Henry and the Hon. Mrs Leila Russell, the window was erected by his widow. She was the daughter of the Revd E M Clements, Rector of Barkston and Marston near Grantham. Each of these churches has a window by Christopher Whall, the latter dated 1897. This two-light window is slightly obscured by the memorial to Sir Richard Willoughby below.
The inscription reads:
To the Glory of God and in ever most loving memory of my husband,
Lieut-Colonel James Cosmo Russell DSO 9th Hodson’s Horse Indian Army
Killed in action on July 31st 1917 at the third battle of Ypres whilst in command
of the 6th (Service) Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders
HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS Rev: 21:7. |
The adjacent tablet on the north wall reads:
THIS WINDOW IS
ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER MOST LOVING MEMORY OF
LT COL. JAMES COSMO RUSSELL D.S.O.
9TH HODSONS HORSE. I.A. ATTACHED
TO AND COMMANDING 6TH BATTN
Q.O. CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
KILLED IN ACTION NEAR YPRES
JULY 31ST 1917. |
2.
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 Detail of the tracery |
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The east window of the chancel depicts the Crucifixion and is by Charles Eamer Kempe. It dates from 1887.
This three-light window is readily recognisable as by Kempe. It is slightly obscured by the upper part of the reredos which was already in position when the window was installed.
The inscription reads:
In honour of the Holy Passion
of our Lord Jesus Christ and in
affectionate memory of Leila Louisa
Millicent, wife of the Revd Henry
Charles Russell Rector of this parish
daughter of Henry viiith Lord
Middleton, entered into rest Feb
24th 1886, this window is dedicated. |
3.
The south window of the chancel shows St Francis and St Nicholas and is by Christopher Whall.
This two-light window faces the memorial to Russell's son. Whall was the chosen artist. It is not clear why St Francis and St Nicholas should have been selected. St Francis is surrounded by a large number of birds, at least 34 of 18 different species have been tentatively identified.
The inscription reads:
To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Henry Charles Russell Rector of this Parish
1876-1922 “I look for the Resurrection of the dead and the Life of the world to come” |
South Aisle
4.
The first window from the east in the south aisle is the Visit of the Magi by C E Kempe and Co. Ltd. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Southwell on 7 January 1915.
Lot Hodgkinson would have been familiar with the two earlier windows by Kempe which no doubt led to his selection. By this time Kempe had died and Kempe and Co. Ltd was run by his distant relation, Walter Tower. His emblem of a black tower sitting on the wheatsheaf can be seen in the bottom left-hand corner of the left-hand light of the three-light window.
The inscription reads:
In thankfulness to God for the memory
of Catharine Hodgkinson who entered
into rest 10th Sept: 1912, her husband
Lot Hodgkinson dedicates this window. |
5.
The second window from the east in the south aisle depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds and is by Kempe and Co Ltd. It dates from 1921.
In the following year Lot Hodgkinson, churchwarden 1892/1918, died and his family reverted to Kempe to provide a matching three-light window to his wife's. His post as manager at the Wollaton colliery is alluded to by the miner's lamp which Joseph can be seen holding in the right-hand light. Walter Tower's emblem appears in the bottom left-hand corner of the left-hand light.
The inscription reads:
TO the Glory of God
and in memory of Lot Hodgkinson,
for 26 years a Churchwarden of
this Parish, who died 18th Feb. 1918,
this window was erected by his family. |
Nave
6.
The westernmost window on the south side of the nave shows the Annunciation and is also by Charles Eamer Kempe. It dates from 1905.
This two-light window commemorates the eldest child of the Revd Henry and the Hon. Mrs Leila Russell who died in 1903 shortly after the birth of her third child. Kempe’s wheatsheaf emblem is visible in the bottom right-hand corner of the left-hand light.
The inscription reads:
To the glory of God and in affectionate
remembrance of Leila Elizma Seely, wife
of Frank Evelyn Seely, and daughter of
the Rev. Henry Charles Russell, Rector of
this Parish, who entered into rest xvith Feb:
mcmiii; the women of Wollaton and
other friends dedicate this window. |
North Aisle
7. The east window of the north aisle is an abstract by John Hardman Studios.
In 1972 the small rectangular opening above the then new Lady chapel altar was filled with thick chunks of glass cut at random on an anvil and set in resin. Subsequently the space beside it became the baptistery and in 2009 the area was furnished for hospitality purposes. At this point the window ceased to be on an outside wall and back-lighting was introduced to maintain and enhance the effect of morning sunshine filtering through the glass.
An adjacent tablet on the south wall reads:
THE EAST WINDOW
WAS GIVEN IN LOVING MEMORY OF
PROFESSOR DAVID CHAMBERS
AND OF
DOROTHY HIS BELOVED WIFE
September 1972 |
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