Stained Glass Windows
There are a wealth of stained glass windows in the church. Some of the windows were designed by Butterfield, and made by by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, others were added by 1920.
This page looks at the Nave, the Lady Chapel and the War Memorial stained glass windows. The images wend their way from the West End of the church, down the North Aisle towards the East End and back up the South Aisle to the West End followed by the two Lady Chapel windows. The War Memorial window includes a stained glass window with a plaque commemorating those fallen in World War I and list of names of those from our parish who died during World War II; these are included at the bottom of the page.
The Chancel Stained Glass Windows are on The Chancel page.
The West End windows
South West window ~ The Baptism of Jesus and Suffer the Little Children
This window depicts the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, and Christ with the little children. This window is by William Butterfield.
Central West window ~ 'Holy, Holy, Holy'
Under the tower arch is the west window which depicts the worship of the Saints in Heaven. Some have already cast down their Golden Crowns in the glassy sea as described in the Revelation of St John the Divine (Ch 4:6)
North West window ~ Noah and Moses
Noah carries the Ark and Moses the stones with the Ten Commandments. This window is by William Butterfield.
The North Aisle windows
War Memorial Window ~ The Dying Soldier
The War Memorial window was dedicated in November 1919 to honour those from the Parish who died during the Great War. The inscription at the bottom of the window reads:
‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.
The subject, a soldier lying dead at the feet of Christ on the Cross, was copied from a picture entitled ‘The Great Sacrifice’ by James Clark which hangs in St Mildred’s Church, Whippingham on the Isle of Wight.
Read more about the Artist and the Memorial Window here.
Read more about St Mary Magdalene, Enfield and those who served during World War 1 here.
The Sower
The next window represents the sower and the seed, with Christ harvesting the crop. The inscription ‘Homo plantat sed Deus dat incrementum’ translates as ‘Man plants but God gives the increase’. The window is dedicated by parishioners and friends to the memory of Charles William Reeves, who served as a churchwarden from 1892-1897 and 1909-1924.
The Good Samaritan
This window illustrates the parable of the Good Samaritan. ‘When he saw him he had compassion on him.’ It is dedicated to Fred Porter, a churchwarden and choir member from 1884-1923.
The Holy Family
This beautiful window represents the life of the Holy Family. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.’ The inscription dedicates the window to Ronald Percy Jeaffreson, a lance corporal in the Honourable Artillery Company, who was killed during the Great War at Bullecourt, France in 1917, at the age of 19.
The Prodigal Son
This window depicts the return of the prodigal son, with his older brother working in the field. ‘I will arise and go to my father.’ This window was a gift from Colonel Nevell in 1931. ‘To the Glory of God and in gratitude for His many mercies during 90 years’.
The South Aisle windows
Baptism
In this window Christ is Baptising the child in His arms. In the background can be glimpsed St Mary Magdalene's font. ‘Baptising them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost and lo I am with you all the days even unto the end of the world.’
Confirmation
Here Christ is laying hands on a kneeling figure of Christian in Confirmation. A priest with an angel accompanies Christian. In the background St Mary Magdalene’s altar can be glimpsed. ‘Return unto the shepherd and Bishop of your souls.’
Holy Communion
In the Eucharist window, Christ is administering the Chalice to Christian with an angel accompanying him. ‘My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed.’
Resurrection
This window depicts Christian's fight against evil. He is carrying the flag of St George. The Risen Lord is shown with Calvary in the distance. ‘Whose I am and whom I serve my grace is sufficient for thee’. This window is dedicated to the memory of a churchwarden, James Washington Crouch, who died in 1907.
Christ the King & Christian
Here Christian, accompanied by an angel, kneels before Christ the King. He has laid aside his armour and prays to be received into heaven. ‘The righteous live for evermore, their reward also is with the Lord. Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom & a beautiful crown from the Lord's hands.’
The Lady Chapel windows
St Cecilia and Persis
St Cecilia, the Patron Saint of music and Persis the Beloved as a teacher. Persis was an early Christian who appears in St Paul's Letter to the Romans. This window is dedicated to seven sisters by the name of Siffken who devoted their lives to art and teaching from 1835-1929.
The Annunciation
This window depicts the Angel Gabriel announcing to Mary the news that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and bear Jesus, the Son of God. Hovering over Mary and Gabriel is the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Luke 1:26-38
