ARCHANGEL GABRIEL & ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

Brief description: Two stained glass lights one showing St Gabriel and the other St Michael. A war memorial window designed by A A Orr in about 1926. St Gabriel- Simple arch with decorated border; three flying doves above head of Gabriel, without a halo, holding lilies in each hand; facing 3/4 left, youthful face, golden hair, red wings, cream and green robes. Two more doves fly in front of him; he is hovering above a landscape with mountains, rainbow and three kneeling sheep. St Michael- Simple arch with decorated border; St Michael stands facing 3/4 right, armed banner and shield in right hand, sword in left; below is a battlefield scene with barbed wire and ruined building

Following the First World War there was a large demand for memorial windows like this one designed by Arthur Anselm Orr in about 1926. It depicts two of the four Archangels named in the bible. St Gabriel is shown holding lilies with doves. His feet hover in the clouds and in the background is a tranquil rural scene said to represent Rockley with mountains, a symbolic rainbow, doves and sheep. In contrast, the lancet window of St Michael, who is armed with a banner, shield and sword, depicts a war battlefield in the background. The window was erected in memory of the soldiers from the parish who died during the Frist World War 1914-1918. St Michael, was a popular choice for war memorial windows. The barbed wire and ruined building shown in muted grey tones at the bottom of the window are evocative of the devastating effects of war. Orr designed windows for a number of commercial firms and studios up to the 1930s. He was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and much of his glass also has an elegant Art Nouveau feel.

Object type: stained glass window

Number of objects: 4

Production date: circa 1926

Production period: 1920s

Designer: Arthur Anselm Orr (1868 - 1949)

Manufacturer: Dix, Arthur J 1861=1917

Dimensions: Height: 1700 mm, Width: 470 mm

Inscription: ELYGM:1974.2.1 base TO THE GLORY OF GOD (AND MEMORY)

Dedication: designed by Orr, Arthur Anselm c.1926 war memorial window

Original location: Rockley Chapel Rockley Marlborough Wiltshire England north nave window

Acquisition: gift 1974

Acquisition source: Church Commissioners

This item is only partly on display

Accession number: ELYGM:1974.2

Related objects

ELYGM:1974.2.1

ELYGM:1974.2.5