Brief description: Design for a single light stained glass window depicting the feeding of the 5000
Proposed design for the window depicting the feeding of the 5000 based in Selsey. The window explores the theme of fishing in two stories. At the top, two angels hold a crest with two crossed fishes. Below, St. Andrew shows Jesus a boy with two loaves and five fish, which Jesus will miraculously multiply to feed a crowd of 5,000. Below that, a story about St. Wilfrid is illustrated in two panels. Whilst in exile, St. Wilfred was shipwrecked and landed off the coast of Selsey, which was pagan. Here, in a delightfully dramatic scene of billowing, ragged sails and boiling seas, St. Wilfrid clings to the mast as he tries to pull a fallen comrade back into the ship. Another unfortunate has just slipped over the side. The inhabitants of Selsey tried to kill Wilfrid, until he converted them to Christianity and lifted a local famine by teaching them to fish. In the lower scene, St. Wilfrid helps two men haul in a laden net as a hopeful seal watches. Fishing acts as a metaphor for conversion in both these stories and Christianity as a whole. This design was created by Christopher Webb (1886–1966), an English stained glass designer based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. He studied at the Slade School of Art and was then articled to Sir Ninian Comper. During his active career from 1920 to 1964 he produced over 400 windows with a distinctive character and style.
Object type: preparatory artwork design
Number of objects: 1
Production date: 4.1961
Production period: 20th century
Designer: Christopher Webb (1886 - 1966)
Dimensions: Height: 97 mm, Width: 325 mm
Original location: Church Norton, Selsey, Sussex
Acquisition: gift 13.3.2024
Acquisition source: Edwards, J
This item is not currently on display and can only be viewed by prior arrangement
Accession number: ELYGM:2024.14.76
