 the New Testament
The angel appears to Joseph (Matt 1.20–23) in his workshop rather than in a dream as recorded in Scripture. No doubt the artist took this licence to make identification of the scene easier as we note the saw and other carpenter’s tools.
The nativity depiction is a traditional one of Joseph, Mary and the Christ Child with the animals, the ox and ass and also the star above the stable.
Herod consulted the priests about the coming of the Christ after the Magi appeared at his palace. The priests and teachers of the Law searched the Scriptures for clues about the Messiah’s birth.
The inscription reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH WENTWORTH AND OF HIS DAUGHTER MARTHA.
West Window South Aisle
18 Scenes from Christ’s early years are depicted
The presentation in the Temple took place when Jesus was eight days old. This was according to Jewish Law. Simeon, a devout man, recognised that Jesus was the awaited Messiah (Luke 2.25–35).
The flight to Egypt occurred when Jesus was an infant. The picture shows the family crossing the sea in a boat. Jesus was taken there by his parents to protect Him from the slaughter of all the boys aged two years or less. This was ordered by Herod (Matt 2.13–18). When He was about twelve years of age Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem for Passover. After the Feast He did not return home with them but remained in the Temple courts listening to the teachers and asking and answering questions (Luke 2.41–52). The learned men are shown, surrounded by their scrolls, suitably amazed at His insight and understanding.
The inscription reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF HENRY ANGIER AND OF MARY HIS WIFE
West Window North Aisle
19 The three panels of the window in the present choir vestry are all on the one theme
This is a repetition of the theme already depicted in the south transept, namely ‘Suffer the little children’. The central panel shows Christ holding a child, surrounded by other children. The full text of the Scripture verse is given in English ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.’ (Matt 19.14)
The inscription reads To the glory of God and in loving memory of William Burton Ashton and Mary Ann his wife, daughter of Henry Angier.
Again the windows are by Mayer of Munich. They depict scenes between the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ.
The layout of the windows is unusual in that the narration proceeds from the bottom left panel to the top left, then down to the bottom panel again and so in zigzag fashion to the top right.
20 The bottom left panel shows Peter, John and Mary mourning outside the tomb (John 20.1–3)
Mary is carrying a jar of ointment ready to anoint Jesus’ body. The top left panel is Christ’s appearance to Mary Magdalene in the Garden. Thinking He was the gardener she asked him if he knew where Jesus’ body had been taken. He spoke her name at which point she recognised Him. He told her not to touch Him, but to go and tell the disciples of His resurrection (John 20.10–17).
The second lower panel shows Jesus and His two followers walking on the Emmaus road (Luke 24.13–28).The corresponding top panel is at the house of the two men from Emmaus. Jesus walked with them from Jerusalem but they did not recognise Him until He blessed the bread and wine at supper, at which point He disappeared from their sight. The picture shows the two men left with their meal (Luke 24.30–32).
The lower central panel shows the Emmaus disciples hurrying back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that they had seen the risen Christ (Luke 24.33–35). The top central panel shows the appearance of Jesus to all the disciples (except Thomas) immediately after they had received confirmation of His resurrection from the Emmaus disciples (Luke 24.36–40). The fourth panel shows Thomas declaring his disbelief when the disciples told him that Christ had appeared to them (John 20.24–25). A week later Christ returns and shows Thomas His wounds in His hands and side (John 20.26–29).
The bottom right panel is Christ h