After the death of Charles Eamer Kempe in 1907, his business was carried on by a distant cousin, Walter Ernest Tower.  The first window in the south aisle is an early example of the work of the re-formed company, now known as C E Kempe and Co.

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Cyril Valpy French, the Vicar of St David’s, wanted the south aisle windows to represent the apostles, prophets and martyrs of the Te Deum.  This window shows two martyrs, Perpetua and Felicity, who suffered under the persecution of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, in the year 203.  The two saints are shown in a rich and elaborate setting which includes four cheerful cherubs, and in three small lights above angels play musical instruments and hold banners proclaiming “Laus Deo” – Praise Be to God. The predominant colours, brown and yellow, were chosen by the architect, W D Caröe, “the very richest colours, the total effect of which is golden sunlight”.

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Perpetua was a young married woman who lived in the city of Carthage.  Together with her husband Saturninus and her slave Felicity, she was arrested, imprisoned and in due course led out to be killed by wild beasts in the city’s arena.  According to a contemporary account they went ‘joyfully as though they were on their way to heaven’.  Perpetua was tossed by a wild heifer but was in such ecstasy that she was completely unaware that she was injured in any way, and both women were eventually dispatched with a sword.

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The two saints are depicted holding palm fronds, a symbol of martyrdom.  In addition Felicity holds a sword and “corona vitae” – the crown of life (James 1:12), and the heifer appears beside the feet of Perpetua.

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The inscription reads “In loving memory of Julia wife of J G Pearse late Rector of All Hallows on the Wall Exeter who fell asleep 1st April 1908”.

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Julia Truscott was born in Alphington in 1833. She married John Gilbert Pearse at Bedford Chapel in 1854 and they had seven children.  At the time of her death the couple were living at 21 St David’s Hill.

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​Pearse was born in South Molton on 12 October 1826.  He was educated at Blundells and Sidney Sussex College Cambridge and ordained priest in 1851.  From 1857 to 1861 he was Curate of St David’s, and in the latter year he was appointed Rector of All Hallows on the Wall, Bartholomew Yard, where he remained until he retired in 1904. He died on 25 July 1910 and was buried with his wife in Higher Cemetery.