Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side (John 19.34). The wine vinegar contained herbs which would have been offered to the victims of crucifixion to help lessen the pain. Matthew records (27.34) that Jesus refused it. The Jews wanted to finish the crucifixion before the Sabbath began so they asked Pilate to have Jesus’ legs broken to hasten death and have him taken down. However, when the soldier came to him he found that he was already dead and pierced his side with a spear to confirm this.
The window inscription is DONO S PEED (given by S Peed).
5 Descent from the Cross
He suffered and was buried
Before the Sabbath began at sunset, Jesus was taken down from the Cross. His wounded right hand and feet are shown in the portrayal of this window. Mary was at the Cross (John 19.25) as Christ was lowered by his friends. The lower part of the window shows the Roman soldiers gambling for Christ’s robe (John 19.23, 24) as it was the privilege of the execution party to take the goods of the victims.
The inscription is IN MEM GULIELM TAYLOR (In Memory of William Taylor).
6 The Empty Tomb and Ascension
And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven
The top part of the window shows Christ’s ascent to heaven in a cloud as the disciples watch (Acts 1.9). The lower half is the empty tomb and the three women who had come to anoint his body and complete the burial formalities which had been left unfinished on Good Friday because of the commencement of the Jewish Sabbath (Luke 23.55—24.1). Note the sad faces of the women who had come to mourn their friend. The angel spoke the words, ‘He is not here; he has risen!’ Note the crown of thorns lying on the ground. Artistic licence has been used in the depiction of the sepulchre which was actually a cave.
The inscription is IN MEM GULIELM TAYLOR (In Memory of William Taylor).
7 Christ in Judgement
And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end
Christ returns accompanied by the angels and with the trumpet call of God (1 Thess 4.16). Surrounded by the angels and still bearing the signs of his passion, Christ establishes his kingdom. The lower figure depicts an earthly king whose kingdom falls to Christ and who bows before the King of kings (cf Revelation 11.15).
8 Symbols of Last Supper and the Crucifixion
The small side panels show various symbols of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. The top panel depicts a chalice and bread. The next shows the ‘vernicle’ of St Veronica. There is a strong tradition, which is without Scriptural authority, that Veronica (Latin VERA ICON = true image) wiped the sweat from Christ’s face with her veil as he laboured on the Via Dolorosa. The imprint of his face remained, miraculously, on the cloth. The vernicle is preserved in the Vatican and the Catholic nature of the belief in it and its inclusion here may reflect either the German background of the window makers or the churchmanship of those responsible for commissioning the windows.
The pelican has been a symbol of Christ since mediaeval times. It appears on the shield of Corpus Christi College. Legend has it that the hen bird would pluck out her own breast feathers and peck at her breast to feed her chicks on her blood to ensure their life. The window panel shows the young in the nest. It has been a symbol for Christ because of the image of willingly shedding His own blood for God’s children.
The lanterns and sword remind us of the events surrounding the arrest of Jesus at night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter drew a sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest in an attempt to defend Jesus (Matt 26.51, Mark 14.7, John 18.10).
The last panel shows the seamless garment for which the soldiers gambled at the foot of the Cross (see note to window 5).
I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life
The extended group of disciples, which included women and Mary the mother of Jesus (Acts 1.13, 14) met together in the upper room. The top of the window shows a dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit (John 1.3