Christ Blessing Children Brought by their Mothers

Photo © Martin Crampin larger image

1893 Large rectangular window depicting the standing figure of Christ with a kneeling woman and children, with a male figure standing behind. Three groups of three angels look down from the top of the window. technique: stained glass size: 120 cm (width) firm/studio: Ward & Hughes Church of St Peter Ad Vincula, Pennal, Gwynedd south wall of the nave Signed and dated 'Ward & Hughes London. 1893'. Texts: 'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not' (below scene, Luke 18:16); 'Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven' (with angels at the top of the window, Matthew 18:10); 'And they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy' (bottom of the window, beneath dedication, Revelation 3:4). Given in memory of Evan Anwyl of Llugwy (1789-1872), his wife Jemma and children Maurice, Evan, William and Maria Florence. Unusually, the biblical text is interpreted as a family group, with Christ at the centre. Often one or more disciples are depicted as part of the scene, showing their disapproval of Christ's interest in the children, but the male figure here has his hand on the shoulder of one of the children, as if to gently bring the child into the scene. As only one mother is shown, this is clearly a family group with five children. As only four children are mentioned in the dedication, perhaps the sole surviving child gave the window.  (ObjectID=3752 ImageID=6461) Original File Name=Pennal_DSC1726A.jpg

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• Christ blessing children brought by their mothers  [Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17]

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), p. 155.

Richard Haslam, Julian Orbach and Adam Voelcker, The Buildings of Wales: Gwynedd (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2009), p. 681.

Photo © Martin Crampin