A Guide to All Saints Church and its Windows

The Church of All Saints, Hanworth was designed by the architect, Nugent Cachemaille-Day. He designed a building that could be erected in two stages - the part nearer the road being built first. This part of the church now serves as an extensive entrance area, flanked on one side by the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and on the other by the Baptistery and, beyond, by the Lady Chapel.

The main body of the church is planned in such a way that there is an unobstructed view of the altar from every seat in the building, and this also applies to the pulpit and the lectern. The choir is situated at the back of the church with the organ in a gallery above. Thus the church has been planned with a special view to the celebration of the Parish Eucharist which is the principal service on Sundays. With the choir and organ at the back supporting the singing of the congregation, there is nothing between the people and the altar, thus emphasising the fact that each member of the congregation takes his full part in assisting in the Sacrifice of the Mass.

Architecturally, the church has been planned on the simplest possible lines with a central space Soft square from which the aisles and the apse of the high altar are separated by brick arches. The lantern and the tall central cross are supported by two reinforced concrete cross arches, the method of construction adopted being a combination of reinforced concrete for the roof and stone-coloured bricks for the walls.

The stained glass in the church has taken a somewhat experimental form because the architects felt there were great possibilities in using sand-blasted glass, which gives a white and shimmering effect in conjunction with pattern glass in a variety of colours, to intensify the whiteness of the sand­blasted glass. The windows have a standard pattern for the background, which gives a unity to the windows as a whole.

1. ALL SAINTS WINDOW shows St. John kneeling on the right hand side with pen and scroll at his foot and the revealing Angel on the left. In the centre is the vision of the Lamb in the midst of the redeemed.

2. On the right of the Altar is the ANGELS WINDOW. The central figure is that of the Archangel Michael, with angels at his sides. Below is a Seraph and in the base is a Cherub.

3. The next window on the right shows ST. GEORGE clad in armour, riding a white horse and piercing the dragon with his lance, in the base are the arms of St. George.

4. The window opposite is THE MARTYRS WINDOW. In the Centre is St. Stephen, the first martyr, dressed in the vestments of a deacon, with stones at his feet and above his head is the Crown of Glory. On his right hand stands St. Alban, the earliest martyr of Britain. He holds in his hand the Palm and Cross emblems of martyrdom. The figure on the left is that of Father Redlich, who met his martyrdom at the hands of the Japanese in the last war. In the base are the arms of St. Alban.

5. The last window on this side of the church is the MONASTIC WINDOW. St. Benedict is depicted holding a crozier with which he repels the devil howling at his feet. On his right is St. Francis of Assisi receiving the Stigmata while seeing the vision of the Crucified Christ. On the left of the window is St. Clare holding a monstrance. This commemorates her success in repelling the saracens from her nunnery by appearing before them bearing a monstrance that contained the Blessed Sacrament.

6. The third window on the right of the Altar is THE APOSTLES WINDOW showing St. Peter with the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and on his head the flame of the Spirit. On his right hand is St. Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury and on his right is Dr. Fisher the present Archbishop. Below are the arms of Canterbury.

7. Proceeding to the Lady Chapel, the first window we see is that of OUR LADY the Queen of Heaven. At her sides are serving angels and at her feet is the crescent moon. Under her feet is a serpent, symbolizing the overthrow of evil, bringing salvation to the human race, instead of the curse brought by Eve. In the base is her badge a capital M.R.

8. The window over the Altar of this Chapel is that of the living Christ, THE REDEEMER reigning from the Cross in Glory. In the base is the chalice and host, emblems of the Holy Communion.

The altar of the first part of the church has been built in stone from stone given by the Vicar of St. Johns, Upper Norwood, which had recently been restored after war damage.

The font has been executed in concrete and represents the Seven Sacraments, thus following ancient tradition and a font cover in gold leaf and various colours, 'mainly blue, has been designed to enshrine an ancient figure of the Blessed Virgin, of Italian craftmanship, the date of which is approximately 1500. This figure is especially interesting as the original gilding and colour has been preserved.

The stone carving of the Lamb of God over the main entrance was carried out in Portland stone by Mr. Bainbridge Copnall.

*  *  *  * 

Material for these notes has been taken from `The Builder' magazine, and we are grateful to The Builder Ltd for their permission to use this.