St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

The lost window of St Luke's

How many pictures are there in the East Window at St Luke’s Church?

The obvious answer is: two. In the middle there is the picture of the crucifixion: Christ hangs on the cross, surrounded by a crowd of both friends and foes below (you can see both disciples and soldiers in the picture), and watched from the skies by the heavenly hosts (you can see the angels). It’s a visual reminder that the cross of Christ is the centre of the Christian faith, the bridge between God and man.

And in a smaller panel above is a picture taken from Revelation 1. Christ sits in glory, with the seven stars in his hand (verse 16), and the seven lampstands (verse 12, pictured as candles) waiting for him to put his light in them. In his other hand he holds a book with A and W on its cover - alpha and omega, the first and the last (verses 8 and 17), and his blue flowing robe is (I think) meant to illustrate that his voice is like the sound of rushing waters (verse 15). It’s a picture to show us that Jesus is in charge, seated in the heavenly places, wanting to send his Spirit on us his church.

And that seems to be all. But look again, more closely.

At the bottom of the window is a line of text: “This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Below it are six semicircles, which look like decoration of the bottom of the window as it disappears behind the wooden screen (the “reredos”). But go outside the church and look at the East Window from the other side, and you’ll see they are in fact archways supporting the ceiling of the upper room, and the picture extends down for maybe another two feet down behind the reredos.

In fact, it’s a picture of the last supper: Jesus with his eleven disciples (for Judas has left) sitting around the table sharing the farewell meal before the crucifixion. Jesus sits behind the cup and looks out at the congregation with piercing eyes, asking us where we are - for him or against him? It’s rather a startling and uncomfortable picture.

Old photographs of the church seem to show that the window was fully visible from its insertion (in 1874) until the chancel was rebuilt (extended sideways) in 1912. The oak reredos and communion table date from 1914. One can only suppose that the new table (maybe with raised floor-level) was higher and it was felt that the brass cross needed a higher dark screen behind - so the window had to go! That’s 88 years ago now, and the window has not been seen since then. Should we find a way of making it visible again?

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. October 2002, Page 6.
Home Page. Index of articles. Local History: index, Eglsehill, Stony Loin, 1800's, East Window, East Window 2. In this issue: (October 2002) Vicar's Letter, Roof Money, Window, Question, Schooling, Deanery.	The lost window of St Luke's How many pictures are there in the East Window at St Luke’s Church? The obvious answer is: two. In the middle there is the picture of the crucifixion: Christ hangs on the cross, surrounded by a crowd of both friends and foes below (you can see both disciples and soldiers in the picture), and watched from the skies by the heavenly hosts (you can see the angels). It’s a visual reminder that the cross of Christ is the centre of the Christian faith, the bridge between God and man. And in a smaller panel above is a picture taken from Revelation 1. Christ sits in glory, with the seven stars in his hand (verse 16), and the seven lampstands (verse 12, pictured as candles) waiting for him to put his light in them. In his other hand he holds a book with A and W on its cover - alpha and omega, the first and the last (verses 8 and 17), and his blue flowing robe is (I think) meant to illustrate that his voice is like the sound of rushing waters (verse 15). It’s a picture to show us that Jesus is in charge, seated in the heavenly places, wanting to send his Spirit on us his church. And that seems to be all. But look again, more closely. At the bottom of the window is a line of text: “This is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Below it are six semicircles, which look like decoration of the bottom of the window as it disappears behind the wooden screen (the “reredos”). But go outside the church and look at the East Window from the other side, and you’ll see they are in fact archways supporting the ceiling of the upper room, and the picture extends down for maybe another two feet down behind the reredos. In fact, it’s a picture of the last supper: Jesus with his eleven disciples (for Judas has left) sitting around the table sharing the farewell meal before the crucifixion. Jesus sits behind the cup and looks out at the congregation with piercing eyes, asking us where we are - for him or against him? It’s rather a startling and uncomfortable picture. Old photographs of the church seem to show that the window was fully visible from its insertion (in 1874) until the chancel was rebuilt (extended sideways) in 1912. The oak reredos and communion table date from 1914. One can only suppose that the new table (maybe with raised floor-level) was higher and it was felt that the brass cross needed a higher dark screen behind - so the window had to go! That’s 88 years ago now, and the window has not been seen since then. Should we find a way of making it visible again? John Hartley
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