Victorian Stained Glass at St Mary's Church Stafford

St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Stafford houses an exceptional collection of Victorian stained glass, introduced primarily during the extensive Gothic Revival restoration directed by architect Sir George Gilbert Scott between 1841 and 1844. This article explores the church's most significant 19th-century windows, highlighting masterworks by renowned glass painters and studios such as William Wailes, George Hedgeland, and Charles Eamer Kempe.

The Chancel East Window (William Wailes)

Installed in 1844 during Scott’s restoration, the great East Window dominates the chancel. Created by William Wailes of Newcastle—one of the most prolific stained glass artists of the early Victorian era—this window reflects the bold, saturated primary colors characteristic of the early Gothic Revival. The multi-light composition illustrates scenes from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, set within architectural canopies designed to harmonize with the church’s restored medieval stonework.

The Great South Transept "Jesse Window" (George Hedgeland)

The south transept contains the church's most acclaimed Victorian window: the monumental Jesse Window, crafted by artist George Hedgeland and installed in 1853. A portion of this design was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Unlike the strictly medievalized work of some of his contemporaries, Hedgeland utilized a rich, painterly style with large figures spanning across mullions. The glass depicts the Tree of Jesse, tracing the lineage of Christ from Jesse of Bethlehem through the Kings of Judah to the Virgin and Child.

The North Transept Window

Directly opposing the Jesse Window, the expansive North Transept window serves as an impressive architectural counterbalance. Dating from the mid-Victorian period, the glazing incorporates complex typological scenes linking Old Testament precursors with New Testament events, surrounded by elaborate grisaille and ornamental foliage typical of high Victorian glass design.

Works by Charles Eamer Kempe

Later Victorian glass at St Mary's includes pieces by Charles Eamer Kempe, the preeminent master of late 19th-century ecclesiastical art. Located in the nave aisles and side chapels, Kempe’s windows contrast sharply with the vibrant mid-century glass of Wailes and Hedgeland. They feature softer, silvery tones, rich golden yellows produced with silver stain, and exquisitely detailed Renaissance-influenced drapery and faces. Visitors can identify Kempe’s work by looking for his trademark wheatsheaf maker's mark incorporated into the borders.

Additional 19th-Century Memorial Windows

Throughout the aisles and clerestory, several smaller memorial windows represent the work of leading Victorian workshops, including Clayton & Bell and John Hardman & Co. of Birmingham. These windows were commissioned by local families and civic figures to commemorate prominent Stafford residents, soldiers, and clergy, illustrating virtues, saints, and parables in classic high-Victorian craftsmanship.