Fairford Church Windows
Text taken from ‘St Mary’s Church, Fairford, Gloucestershire’. 4th ed 2001.
Revised by Geoff Hawkes and Kenneth Munn
Illustrations from the Sidney Jacques slide collection donated to Fairford History Society.
Mr Jacques was verger to St Mary’s Church,
Fairford for eleven and a half years. These slides were taken before the restoration of the majority of windows so some differences may
be noted on a visit to the church.
Since 1986 there has been a programme of restoration of the windows by the
Barley Studio in York.
The twenty-eight windows have been used to express and teach by pictures the Christian faith for nearly 500 years.
No other parish church in the land has retained a complete set of late medieval glass. The plan of these windows
illustrated the Christian faith as in the pages of a picture book. Opposite to the twelve prophets, who foretold
the faith, stand twelve apostles, each beneath a sentence of the Apostles’ Creed, which expresses the faith.
Four evangelists, who recorded the faith, are opposite four doctors of the Church, who expounded the faith.
Above stand twelve martyrs, or confessors, who suffered for the faith; opposite are twelve enemies of the faith.
Within the chancel screens is shown, in the Life of Christ, the foundation of our faith. In the bottom centre panel
of the East window stands Our Lord being judged by Pilate. In the West Window is shown Christ judging the whole world.
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