Window: 24, South Transept , St Peter & Paul, Great Missenden

Location in Church:

South Transept

Type:

Glass Screen at Entrance to Transept

Size (width x height):

10' 7" x 10' 4" or 3.22m x 3.14m

Subject(s):

St Peter and St Paul, either side of a central panel expressing the Glory of God through light and colour emanating from a Cross.

Date Made:

2006

Craftsmen:

Jonathan Tompson, Artist
Nicholas Mynheer, Artist
Daedalian Glass, Maker

Sources for Dates & Craftsmen:

: Information in Church

Dedicated to:

Gillian Tompson

Donated by:

Paul Tompson

Notes on Window:

Glass Screen replaced the old Carrington family pew, to enclose a meeting space in the South Transept. More...

In 2006 the redevelopment of the South Transept evolved out of a number of pastoral and liturgical needs. A special space was needed that would fulfil a number of functions, Somewhere that could be set aside for children, for meetings and conversation, or for prayer and quiet reflection. These needs resulted in the creation of the beautiful glass memorial screen that is dedicated to the Glory of God. It was given by Paul Tompson, in loving memory of his wife Gillian Tompson, who worshipped at the church, The screen was designed by Jonathan Tompson, their son. The images are by Nicholas Mynheer and the whole realised by Davia Walmsley of Daedalian Glass.
The front of the screen depicts St Peter and St Paul to whom this church is dedicated. Peter the Fisherman, on the left hand panel, is being called to be a Fisher of Men.
"Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee and saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen,'Come, follow me', Jesus said 'and I will make you fishers of men'" Matthew. 4 v, 18,19.
Peter is shown holding a basket and net loaded with fish. He stands on a mound or rock that is symbolic of the rock: Peter, on which the church was to be built. Behind him is the sea and above is an inverted cross representative of his own sacrifice and death. He looks towards God (represented by the central cross) who calls him.
Paul (once Saul) on the right hand panel stands in the dazzling light of Jesus, the one who calls him on the road to Damascus, As he nears Damascus on his journey, a blazing light from heaven flashes around him, He falls to the ground and hears a voice saying 10 him:
'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' Acts 9 v 3.4
His hand is open letting a stone fall to the ground, referring to his part in the stoning to death of Stephen, Yet the stones, viewed with the fish in the Peter panel, become loaves of bread, reminding us of the feeding of the five thousand and in turn of the Eucharist.
This depicts the moment of calling for Peter and Paul, They look to Christ who is central and to the cross. The central panel is more abstracted in design aiming to express the Glory of God through light and colour emanating from the cross.
On the other side of the screen the six images are clearest when viewed from the height of a child.