Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches

Windows by F W Oliphant - Maker

Oliphant, Francis Wilson [Frank] (1818-1859), painter and designer of stained glass, was born on 28 September 1818 at Gateshead, co. Durham, the son of Thomas Oliphant (c.1787-1856), a glass cutter. He was trained as an artist at the Edinburgh Academy of Art. In early life the revival of Gothic style and ornament led him to make a profound study of ecclesiastical art, and while still very young he attained considerable reputation as a designer of painted glass in the works of Messrs. Wailes of Newcastle-on- Tyne. He afterwards removed to London and worked much with Welby Pugin, especially upon the painted windows in the new Houses of Parliament. He also sent in a cartoon to the competition for the decoration of Westminster Hall, which was not successful. During this period Oliphant exhibited several pictures in the Royal Academy, the chief being a large Shakespearean study of the interview between Richard II John of Gaunt, and a striking picture of the Prodigal Son, "Nearing home". In 1852 His latter years were occupied with an energetic attempt to improve the art of painted glass by superintending the processes of execution as well as the design, in the course of which he produced the windows in the ante-chapel of King's College, Cambridge, those in the chancel of Aylesbury Church, and several in Ely Cathedral. The famous choristers' window at Ely was the joint work of Oliphant and William Dyce, R. A., the former being responsible for the original design. This work, however, was interrupted by ill-health, which obliged him to seek a warmer climate. He died at Rome in October 1859, chiefly from the effects of overwork. He had published in 1856 a small treatise entitled "A Plea for Painted Glass". (www.electricscotland.com)

8 Windows, listed in Church Order

Sort Windows by Date

Window	Location	Church	Date	Craftsmen
	Old S Aisle S (W)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1858	F W Oliphant
	Chancel S (E)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1853	F W Oliphant
	Chancel S (C)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1858	F W Oliphant
	Chancel S (W)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1858	F W Oliphant
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	Chancel N (W)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1857	F W Oliphant
	Chancel N (C)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1857	F W Oliphant
	Chancel N (E)	St Mary in Aylesbury	1857	F W Oliphant
	N Aisle N(E)	Holy Trinity in Prestwood	1858	F W Oliphant

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Stained Glass of Buckinghamshire Churches