top of page

Lady Chapel: Christopher Churchill Bartholomew window

The following description of the Bartholomew window is by Jeremy Lawford:

This window in the north wall of the Lady Chapel takes the place of one from the earlier church. This was the 1862 Nativity window, which was dismantled when the church was demolished, and was stored in the muniments room. It is one of the two that at the time of writing (April 2025) are displayed alternately in the south transept.

The present replacement window has two main sections, and together they show the Presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-39). To the left, Joseph and Mary stand prayerfully, and beside Mary an open book gives the text Statim veniet ad templum suum Dominator quam vos quaeritis - The Lord whom you seek will presently come to His temple (Malachi 3:1). Beyond an altar is Simeon with Jesus in his arms. The prophet Anna stands just behind the altar, and in front stands a boy carrying a cage with the turtle doves that are to be offered in sacrifice "according to what is stated in the law of the Lord". The scroll above Simeon's head bears the opening words of the Nunc Dimittis, although the second word is misspelled.

The words of the 1862 dedication are repeated on the plaque beneath the window: In honorem Dei et in memoriam uxoris filiolaeque, hanc vitream poni curavit Ch. Ch. B - in honour of God and in memory of his wife and daughter, Ch. Ch. B had this window installed.

The donor, Christopher Churchill Bartholomew, was the incumbent at St David's from 1847 to 1862. He is buried with his wife and two of his daughters on the north side of the church.

bottom of page