St. Matthew's Church Blackmoor & Whitehill

THE EAST WINDOW (over the altar) depicts the 'Three-fold' operation of the Ever Blessed Trinity: It is by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.

The top section, showing the symbol of the Eternal Father Creator the Hand of God - represents the creation: at 10 o'clock you see the chaos from which creation was brought, then, anti-clockwise, the separation of the of above from below, dry land appears, then trees, plants, the sun, moon and stars, fishes, birds, and land mammals, and mankind - symbolised by Adam = Man (asleep), and Eve (out of man) arising as the completion of creation.

The lower left section shows the Lamb of God, who offers Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Around the Lamb are three ways in which Jesus described Himself: The vine, of which we are the branches, the light of the world, the gate of the sheepfold. One of the bottom two sections around the Lamb seems to be the lily of the valley. According to myth Mary's tears at the cross sprang up into these flowers, showing the movement from genuine grief to beauty and life. The other section shows an almond. This figured a great deal in the Temple in Jerusalem, as it was the first plant to grow leaves in the spring, and was therefore a sign of the passing of winter and the life returning to the land. This promise, anticipated in the Temple, is fulfilled in the Resurrection.

The lower right section shows the form of a Dove, in which the Holy Spirit descended at Jesus' baptism. Around her are images from Ezekiel. They are surrounded by flames, pointing to Pentecost, when the Spirit came on the disciples. Four of the sections are the faces of the living creatures from Ezekiel, the man, the lion, the ox and the eagle. These represent the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, through which the Spirit speaks to us. The man's face, representing St Matthew, is clear rather than brown, as this is St Matthew's church. The top section contains the wheels covered in eyes, again from Ezekiel. This has several levels of meaning, but points towards the Spirit's ability to move everywhere and see everything.

In the centre and slightly lower is a diagram in Latin, which seeks to explain the relationship between the three members of the Trinity. The Father (Pater) is God (Deus), the Son (Filius) is God, the Holy Spirit (Spiritus Sanctus) is God, but the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father.

The four panels below were added by Hendry in 1920. They may be just four angels - they may be the four archangels Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, who are mirrored in the West window at the other end of the church.

THE SOUTH WINDOW in the sanctuary depicts three parables of Jesus: the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), shown being welcomed home by his Father, The Lost Sheep (Luke 15), shown being found and carried home by the Shepherd, and the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18), the tax collector is humbly asking for forgiveness, while the Pharisee is confidently thanking God for making him good and holy. The story tells how it is the tax collector who goes home justified before God.

The link between these parables is that God accepts and welcomes us when we recognise our need for Him, and ask Him to rescue us, not when we believe ourselves good enough for Him.

On the south side there is a memorial window with Our Lady, the Infant Jesus and St George. The next window on the South is the Nativity window, showing the Christmas story, and the adoration of the shepherds. Look for the different birds and animals in this window.

The third window is as originally intended by Waterhouse, described as: of subtle coloured glass, simple geometry, and divided chestnut leaves characteristic of Waterhouse's stained glass designs, as is also his use of textured glass.

THE WINDOW NEAR THE PULPIT, showing Faith and Fortitude, is also a memorial - by Heaton, Butler, and Bayne, tracery by Hendry (1900).

THE WEST WINDOW shows St John, Our Lady, Christ crucified, St Mary Magdalene and St Matthew, in the same order as in the reredos behind the altar. Above them are the four Archangels, mirroring the east window. Each Archangel holds signs of the passion of the Christ. Below the Saints and the cross are shields containing causes of Our Lord's suffering: pillar and whip, hammer and nails, crown of thorns, ladder and spear, and in the centre, the greatest cause of his suffering, a heart, his love for fallen humanity.

Over Our Lord's head is a pelican feeding three small chicks. The pelican is an ancient symbol of the passion, because if there is no food, it will tear flesh from its own breast to feed its young. This window repays close examination, and has many other details waiting to be discovered.

This window was erected in memory of the first Lord Selborne's wife Laura, who died in 1885.

All the windows have circles at the top, either used to teach, as in the east window, or with coloured glass. These are called roundels, and may be a pun on the name of the builder.