Lectures

6th February 2019: Continental Painted Glass in Kentish Churches

At the February 2019 meeting of the Wye Historical Society we enjoyed a fascinating illustrated lecture by member Leslie Smith FSA who talked about ‘Continental Painted Glass in Kentish Churches’. There are four main collections of imported painted glass in Kent churches: Bishopsbourne, Patrixbourne, Cowden and Pugin’s St Augustine in Ramsgate. Further interesting pieces are found in Temple Ewell, Elham, Smeeth and Woodchurch while Dutch glass can be seen in the windows of the Beaney Library in Canterbury and on display inside.

So how did this 16th and 17th century continental glass end up here? During the turmoil of the French Revolution many churches and monasteries were disbanded in France and across Europe. Some glass made its way to England where it was sold. For example, a Mr Hampp had a warehouse full of material from church and collegiate buildings which was sold at auction in 1808. Pugin frequently sailed to France so he probably bought glass when he was on the continent. In the main, collectors of Renaissance period glass were rich benefactors who wanted to donate items to their local church. One famous collector was Elizabeth, Marchioness Conyngham, the last mistress of George IV, who gave much glass to Patrixbourne. A Mr Halford gave pieces of Swiss glass to the church at Temple Ewell in 1852, though it was not all installed in the windows until a second benefactor gave enough money a number of years later. This collection includes a unique roundel showing the confederation of Swiss states in 1676.

Much of the glass was painted using prints as a guide. For example, the early printmaker Dürer created ‘Samson Rending the Lion’. A version appears on glass in Patrixbourne dated 1538, which is fairly true to the original. Similarly, Samson and Delilah at Bishopsbourne comes from a painting by Heemskerk that was turned into a print in 1590 in Antwerp, which had 300 printmakers at this time. A large collection of Dutch glass is displayed at Bishopsbourne. The top row contains six panels depicting scenes such as the Annunciation and the Virgin and Child with St Anne. Underneath are three roundels, two of which concern the Prodigal Son. These panels are surrounded by Tudor arms from the Beckingham family. The east window in Cowden Church has seven panels all taken from a set of twelve paintings depicting the last days of Christ. Sometimes more than one version exists; for example both Temple Ewell and Elham have versions of the Flight into Egypt, while many similar pieces of glass to those in the Kent churches are in American museums.

Ellie Morris