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This
window bears the dedicatory inscription:
“in reverent memory of the men of the parish who
nobly gave their lives for freedom and humanity in the great
war 1914 - 1918.”
Designed and painted by Henry Holiday, who described
it as: “Enthroned in the centre, Christ holding a
Cross, illustrating the words, ‘Surely He hath borne
our griefs and carried our sorrows.’ “Below,
groups of the bereaved, bringing their sorrows to Him.”
“The man on the left, wearing a helmet, with his sword
at his side, represents one of the many cases where a soldier
has returned unhurt, but mourns a brother who has lost his
life. Next to him is seated an elderly working man, with
leather apron, whose son, we may suppose, has fallen in
battle.”
“Above him is a young girl, maybe a sister of one
of the victims.
In the centre light beneath our Lord, the figure of a young
mother with two children who have lost the husband and father.
On the other side is seated a girl with her hand on her
heart, whose betrothed has been slain. She holds her wedding
wreath in her hand, which she is going to lay upon his grave.
Above her an elderly couple mourning a lost son, and next
behind them standing above them, crying, and quite desolate,
is an orphan who has lost his only parent. Above the clouds
are angels, who bring divine messages of help to all who
suffer. Above the throne are cherubs, the symbols of Divine
Love.
Above text at foot gives the theme of the design. The rainbow
above the throne helps in the composition, and is valuable
as a symbol of the Covenant of God, and therefore of hope.
In the tracery lights are the royal monogram and crown,
with the date 1921 representing “Country”; the
fleur-de-lys, representing “Tamworth” –
that is “Home”; and the arms of the diocese,
the “Church”
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