A Community Service Website by Roy Romsey - romseys@yahoo.com
Romsey Abbey
Guide
A Medieval Gem
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A.D. 1120 - A.D.2020
Romsey Abbey Stained Glass Windows
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Step into the vast embrace of this splendid Norman abbey, where the colossal interior is a symphony of 24 exquisite stained glass windows. Crafted by renowned British designers from the Victorian era, these windows weave together a tapestry of beauty and narrative.
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These radiant windows not only illuminate the sacred space with the warm glow of biblical stories but also dance with intricate patterns of light, casting a spell of tranquility and serenity upon the hallowed interiors. They become more than mere embellishments; they are vessels of peace.
In 2020, a new window was installed as a poignant tribute to the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale.
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The former 25ft window in the west end of the abbey was damaged during a storm in 1961, it was subsequently dismantled and is now in storage at Winchester.
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According to a review by David J King: 'It has been calculated that 80,000 stained glass windows were produced in England during the nineteenth century, each a testament to the enduring artistry that has illuminated the passage of time
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Christ the Good Shepherd
& Suffer the little children
1: Alexander Gibbs - 1874 - North nave aisle.
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As you enter from the north door and walk clock-wise around the abbey, this window will be seen on the left, it was installed in 1874. The window is designed by Alexander Gibbs (1831-1886) of Bedford Square and Bloomsbury London; it is one of three ‘Gibbs’ windows in Romsey Abbey.
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The uppermost panel is of ‘Christ The Good Shepherd’ and the lower panel of ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’.
Alexander Gibbs was from a family of talented and prolific stained glass designers. Alexander started his own business in 1858; an enterprise that continued until 1915. His business soon became a close collaborator with the renown Victorian Gothic British architect William Butterfield.
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Window plan - No 1
Photo - P1160643
Grid plan location:- G-D06-N5
Healing the Lame.
The Good Samaritan.
Healing the Blind.
2: Alexander Gibbs - 1874 - North nave aisle.
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This is the second Gibbs window installed in 1874, you encountered it as you walk clock-wise around the abbey, it is the second of three windows by Alexander Gibbs. The three panels illustrate scenes from ‘Healing the lame’ - The Good Samaritan’ and ‘Healing the Blind Man’.
Windows by Alexander Gibbs are considered to be part of the best created during the victorian period.
If you are tall enough, you may spot the Alexander Gibbs signature in the extreme bottom right corner.
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Window plan - No 2
Photo P1160640
Grid plan location:- G-D07-N5
St Swithun
3: Francis Skeat - 1951 - North transept.
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As you enter the south transept you come upon a mid-20th century window dedicated to the memory of Canon Corban, he was the vicar from 1925 until 1951.
St Swithun is the patron saint of a church by the same name at Crampmoor to the north of Romsey - it is a daughter church of the abbey.
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The window was installed at the abbey in 1951 by Francis Skeat of St Albans, he was responsible for creating over 400 painted/stained glass windows.
Window plan - No 3
Photo P1160962
Grid plan location:- G-CB09-W5
Annunciation
4: James Powell & Sons - 1901 - North transept.
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This stained glass window is from the works of James Powell & Sons, installed in 1901. It is in memory of Almaric Rumsey of Lincoln's Inn.
Almaric Rumsey (1825–99), was a mathamatician, barrister-at-law and professor of Indian Jurisprudence at King’s College, University of London. specialising in Sunni Islamic family inheritance laws. Above the window is a mosaic of two family coat of arms. The family connection with Romsey is traced back to Sir Walter de Romesey a knight from the the 12th century.
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Window plan - No 4
Photo P1160629 Grid
Grid plan location:- G-B09-N5
Angel of Music
6: Alexander Gibbs - 1860s - North transept.
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Little is known of this 'Angel of music' in this lancet window hidden high up in the gables of the north Transept above the clerestory.
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The blue halo offsets her serene face as she quietly strums the harp. It has been said that this psalmist was 'probably placed there to commemorate the fact that the organ once stood on a gallery in this chapel'. It is one of several windows by Alexander Gibbs.
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It was previously thought to represent St Cecilia.
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Window plan - No 6
Photo P109681
Grid plan location:- C-B09-N
Holy Family at Work
5: James Powell & Sons - 1902 - North transept.
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This engaging window by James Powel and Sons is in memory of the Revd E.L.Berthon 1813-1899, who was the Vicar of Romsey from 1860 until 1892.
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The Revd Berthon was an inventor, astronomer and boat builder whose business of boatbuilding used many of the skills of his workforce to undertake much needed and major restoration within the Abbey.
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The window depicts the Holy family at work in Nazareth, which aptly reflects his own lifetime of dedicated work for the church; it also illustrates some of his interests and is a very good likeness of the man.
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The window can be found in the North Transept.
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Window plan - No 5
Photo P1160630
Grid plan location:- G-B10-N5
The Calling
7: Sophie Hacker - 2020
North choir aisle.
This new window, designed and made by Sophie Hacker of Winchester, commemorates the bicentenary of Florence Nightingale (12 May 1820 – 13 August 1910).
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​Many aspects of Nightingale’s professional and personal life are symbolically represented in the design.
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Holy Well Glass cut and etched the glass. After Hacker had painted, stained and fired the window, it was leaded and installed by Salisbury Cathedral Glass.
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Installation took place over the week of October 5th, 2020, seven months later than planned, due to the national lockdown caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
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​A service of dedication is planned for May 2021, a year after the Bicentenary.
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Window Plan: No 8 Photo 08-P1150868
Grid Location:- G-D14-N5
Pool of Bethesda
8: James Powell & Sons - 1886 - North choir aisle.
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This beautifully detailed window by Pre-Raphaelite designer Henry Holiday was executed by James Powell & Sons, It illustrates the 'Healing of the bedridden'. It was installed in memory of Hon. Sybella Ashley who passed away following a prolonged illness in 1886 aged 40.
According to a Bible story - John chapter 5 - Bethesda pool in Jerusalem was supposed to have healing powers after being stirred by an angel. The name comes from Aramaic beth hesda "house of mercy," or perhaps "place of flowing water." It is situated on the north wall of Romsey Abbey.
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Window plan - No 7
Photo P1160908
Grid plan location:- G-D13-N5
St Michael the Archangel
9: Kempe - 1897
St George's Chapel. North choir aisle.
This is one of several Kempe windows to be found in the Abbey; it is of St Michael the Archangel killing the dragon - the devil.
It is surrounded by beautiful peacock feathers - a device sometimes used by Kempe instead of his insignia of a wheat-sheaf.
Interestingly, there are as many as 13 monograms of the Virgin Mary incorporated into the window - an M topped with a crown.
The window is a memorial dedicated to the memory of Jane Footner, (the wife of George Bright Footner), she died march 1895 and of their son Arthur who had passed away the previous month.
Window plan - No 9
Photo P1160989
Grid plan location:- G-D15-E5
Adoration of the Shepherds
10: Clayton & Bell - 1879
St Mary's Chapel - East end.
This nativity window shows the Adoration of the Shepherds.
It was installed in 1884 in memory of George Bright Footner 1801 -1879.
The Footner family were significant in the town of Romsey as wine merchants, bankers and solicitors.
Clayton and Bell Regent St London, flourished from 1855 until 1993: they designed this window and were in great demand during the late 1800s: they employed a workforce of about 300.
Window plan - No 10
Photo P1160615
Grid plan location: - G-E15-05
The Epiphany
12: Kempe & Co - 1910
St Anne's Chapel - South choir aisle.
One of a pair of windows in memory of the Hon. Evelyn Ashley of Broadlands Romsey.
Kempe and Co Installed the window in 1910.
Kempe windows were identified by a wheat sheaf motif, However, on the death of Charles Eamer Kempe (29 June 1837 – 29 April 1907) Walter Tower, a distant cousin, took over the company; he added a small tower into the wheat sheaf motif.
Window plan - No 12
Photo P1160916
Grid plan location:- G-G15-E5
Salvation
14: France, Unknown - 16th century
South choir aisle.
This 16th century French panel was rescued from the church of St Nicholas des Painteurs Rouen when the church was demolished in 1840.
It depicts Salvation through: Charity, Prayer and Mankind.
It was donated to Romsey Abbey in 1975 in memory of Captain Charles Neill RAFVR by his wife Mrs Neill of Lee Park Farm.
A separate panel shows the crest of No 49 Squadron Bomber Command in which Capt Neill served during WWII.
Window plan - No 14
Photo P1170002
Grid plan location:- G-G12-S5
Reaching Safely to Land
16: James Powell & Sons - 1902
South transept.
This James Powell 1902 stained glass window is the second of a pair in memory of Georgiana Tollemache.1822-1901, Baroness Mount Temple of Broadlands.
It shows Christ Walking upon Water and the miraculous catch of fish.
Window plan - No 16
Photo P1160536
Grid plan location:- G-J09-S5
Supper at Emmaus
18: James Powell & Sons - date 1893
South transept.
This is the second of a pair of steained glass windows installed in memory of the Hon. Ralph Heneage Dutton, 1821-1892.
The window, designed by Arthur Louis Duthi is one of five by James Powell on the south wall and illustrates Christ sharing a meal with two of his disciples.
The face of the disciple on the right is that of Ralph Heneage.
The family lived at Timsbury Manor, just north of Romsey.
Window plan - No 18
Photo P1160636
Grid plan location:- T-J09-S5
Healing the Blind Man at Bethsaida
20: Franz Mayer - 1880
South nave aisle.
This fine window, dates from 1880, it shows Jesus healing the Blind man at Bethesda, it is in memory of Caroline Maria Noel (1817-1877) the youngest of five daughters of the Revd Gerard Noel, - Vicar of Romsey from 1841 until 1849.
Caroline Noel, bedridden with a crippling disease for much of her life, is best known for her poems and composing of hymns; most notably "At the name of Jesus" published in 1861 with other verses for the sick and lonely.
Both the Revd Noel and his daughter were renown for their writing of hymns.
The German company of Franz Borgias Mayer Munich crafted the window.
It is situated in the South nave aisle.
Window plan - No 20
Photo P1170004
Grid plan location:- C-G05-S5
The Crucifixion
11: Clayton & Bell - 1870
St Ethelflaeda's Chapel - East end.
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This three panel window by Clayton and Bell is somewhat dark, it depicts the Crucifixion and is highly detailed.
It was one of their earliest commissions and installed in St Ethelflaeda's Chapel in 1870.
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The chapel is named after Romsey's third abbess, St Ethelflaeda, she was a daughter of Athelwold, a nobleman and close friend of King Edgar the Peaceful.
Window Plan: No 11
Photo P116063a
Grid Location:- G-F15-E5
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Child Jesus in the Temple
13: Kempe & Co - 1910 - South choir aisle.
This is the second of the pair of windows by Kempe and Co in memory of the Hon. Evelyn Ashley,1836-1907.
Evelyn Ashley was a Barrister, Liberal Politician and grandfather of Lady Louis Mountbatten.
It shows Jesus as a child in the temple with eleven scribes in attendance.
Window plan - No 13
Photo P1170228
Grid plan location:- G-G13-S5
Christ walking upon Water
15: James Powell & Sons - 1902
South transept.
This James Powell 1902 stained glass window is one of a pair in memory of Georgina Tollemache. 1822-1901, Baroness Mount Temple of Broadlands.
It show Christ walking upon water with three of his desciples who are catching fish.
The window is partially hidden by the canopy of a carved sepulchre below.
Window Plan - No 15
Photo P1160540
Grid plan location:- G-J10-S5
The Way, The Truth, The Light.
17: James Powell & Sons - date 1893
South transept.
The window illustrates: Christ on the road to Emmaus talking with two disciples and represents The Way, the Light and the Truth.
It was designed by Arthur Louis Duthie and Installed in the memory of Ralph Heneage Dutton 1821-1892. MP for South Hampshire 1857-1865.
The face of the figure on the right is modelled on the likeness of Ralph Dutton - Duttons Road, leading from Romsey Railway station, is named after him.
Window plan - No 17
Photo P1160960
Grid plan location:- T-J09-S5
Christ Arises
19: James Powell & Sons - date 189?
South transept.
This window, at the clerestory level in the south transept, is the fifth in this area by the company of Charles Powell.
It is unusual in that it shows Christ appearing to the three Marys.
It is in memory of Charles John Tylee - one-time town clerk of Romsey and a partner in Messrs Tylee and Mortimer, Solicitors.
Window plan - No 19
Photo P1160914
Grid plan location:- C-J09-S5
Annunciation
22: Hugh Easton - 195? South nave aisle.
This is a window by the 20th century's leading stain glass artist Hugh Easton, his insignia of a weather vane pointing east can be seen in the bottom right hand corner.
It shows Mary and the Archangel, below which is Christ upon the stem and branches of a crucifix lily-of-life.
Window plan - No 22
Photo P1170015
Grid plan location:- G-G04-S5
Former Great West Window
24: Clayton & Bell - 1865
The west end.
The central panel of this enormous three-panel stain glass window measured 39 ft X 5'7", the whole window was removed and put into storage following storm damage in1961.
The upper portion of the three windows represented the highest idea of rule — the Lord Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of glory, surrounded by adoring saints and angels.
In the panels below were three subjects from the New Testament and various other elements.
It was a memorial to Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, of Broadlands (1784-1865) who served twice as prime minister during the hight of Britain's imperial power.
It was not considered a good example of work by Clayton and Sons.
Window plan - No 24
Photo P277277
Grid plan location:- - G-EF02- S
Presentation of Jesus Christ
21: James Powell & Sons - 1891
South nave aisle.
This window depicts two scenes: the upper one is of St Ann, whom it is believed to be the grandmother of Jesus.
The lower scene illustrates the Presentation of the child Jesus by Mary and Joseph.
This is another James Powell window, but designed in this instance by Rhead and installed in 1891.
Window plan - No 21
Photo P1160661
Grid plan location:- G-G04-S5
Presentation of Jesus Christ
23: Ward & Hughes - 1878
South nave aisle.
This powerful scene shows a messenger from heaven stopping Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac; he sacrifices the ram instead.
This is the only Ward and Hughes window at the abbey.
Window plan - No 23
Photo P1170018
Grid plan location:- G-G03-S5
The Great Eastern Window (1)
25: James Powell & Sons - 1890
Retro choir.
This pair of three panel windows above the high altar were given in memory of William Cowper-Temple, later Lord Temple of Mount Temple, who died in 1888.
William Cowper-Temple was Lord Palmerston’s step-son from his marriage to Emily Lamb
The window was inspired by the Temple family name, and designed by Dutch artist Van Eyck. "Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple" (Rev. 7:15) and "Ye are the temple of the living God.
"To the One who sits on the throne [on the left] and to the Lamb [on the right] be blessing and honour and glory and might".
Window plan - No 25
Photo P1160972
Grid plan location:- G-E14-E5
The Great Eastern Window (2)
26: James Powell & Sons - 1890
Retro choir.
Both windows above the high altar are very densely patterned, but while they let less light into the church, the stained glass itself is rich in colour and meaning. Both were given in memory of Palmerston’s step-son William Cowper-Temple. 1811 - 1888, later Lord Temple of Mount Temple.
This window complements the other, it shows Christ enthroned, as in this text from Revelation:: "To the One who sits on the throne [on the left] and to the Lamb [on the right] be blessing and honour and glory and might" (5: 13).
Central to the right hand window is the Lamb with rays of light shining out from it. It depicts his mother’s maiden name; Lamb. with reference to Revelations 7: 17: "The lamb shall lead them into living fountains of waters".
The faces of those paying homage are said to represent Lord Mount Temple’s friends, including the Revd. E. L. Berthon, Vicar of Romsey at the time. Are they among the preachers or the group of worshippers?
Window plan - No 26
Photo P1160977
Grid plan location:- G-F14-E5
