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WEST: St Margaret of Antioch,
sometimes known as Marina, an apocryphal saint whose legend dates from before
the mid fifth century. She was the daughter of a pagan priest but
became a Christian. Among the tortures she experienced was being
swallowed by a dragon (see the lower part of the window) but she
escaped by the cross and spear she held (which is seen in this
window). Patroness of childbirth, she became one of the Fourteen
Holy Helpers. Her life was frequently written of and even more
frequently read on account, it is said, of the spiritual advantages
to be gained.
This window may date from early postwar years, but
it is probably earlier. It may have been prompted by a church
society named after her.
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MIDDLE: St Martin (Bishop of Tours) dividing
his cloak to clothe the beggar
by Leonard Evetts (1951).
A
popular saint in the middle ages, he was what might be considered an
early "conscientious objector". The well-known action of
cutting his cloak in half for a nearly naked beggar took place in
Amiens. Christ appeared to him soon after in a dream, wearing the
cloak he had given to the beggar. He lived from c.316-397. His
episcopate (at the top of the window there is a mitre to denote
this) was notable for both theological rigour and miracles of
healing. Perhaps the flowers and fruit in the lower part of the
window hint at St Martin's summer, a spell of fine weather that
often occurs around his feast on 11 November.
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EAST: The Flight into Egypt
by the Holy Family to escape the wrath of Herod
by Leonard
Evetts (1962)
A memorial to Norah Harriet Yabsley (d.1961). Joseph
is shown leading the animal forward but also looking back with
concern for the safety of the Family while the Virgin concentrates
her care on the infant Christ.
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