The tracery contains
six panels by Sir Edward Burne-Jones (and glazed by the great
craftsman William Morris), known as the "Angels of Creation,
which tell the story of creation as found in Genesis:
First Day – A six winged
seraph with the flame significant of energy upon his brow; standing
upon the greenness of the void and holding the globe of the
universe enclosing the spheres of light and darkness. –
Gen. 1.4: “And God divided the light from darkness.”
Second Day – A six-winged seraph
with sad eyes – Gen.1.7: “And God made the firmament,
and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the
waters which were above the firmament.”
Third Day – The same, the seraph
standing on the dry land, studded with forlorn flowers, showing
the birth of delicate foliage within her mystic globe. –
Gen.1.11: “And God said let the earth bring forth grass
and herb.”
Fourth Day – This is brighter in
tone, having more gold, ;symbolical of sun and moon and infinite
glories of the heavens.—Gen 1.15: - “And God said
let there be lights in the firmament to give light upon the
earth.”
Fifth Day – Still brighter in effect.
The seraph stands upon the wet sea margin strewn with fragile
shells. The sphere contains a swift whirl of white-winged sea
birds sweeping up from stormy waters. –Gen 1.20: “And
God said let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature…
and fowl.”
The Sixth Day - This panel shows the angel
of the sixth day holding the sphere, the angels of the former
days beside him and the angel of the seventh day at his feet.
The angel of the day of rest is flower garlanded, among rose,
playing a many stringed instrument. The sphere shows Adam and
Eve first meeting in the Garden of Eden beside the forbidden
tree, behind which the great coils of the serpent are faintly
seen. This is described as the best of the six panels, the figures
of Adam and Eve full of grace and simplicity. – Gen.1.26:
“And God said, let us make man in our own image…male
and female created He them.”
Surrounding these are smaller lights filled with pictures of
angels playing musical instruments, making melody in honour
of Creation, Incarnation and Redemption. The Incarnation is
shown in a painting of the Annunciation at the top of the arch,
which through the Creation of Man links up with an impressive
panel on the centre of the window setting out the story of St.
Christopher typifying Mans’ Redemption.