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List of works by Karl Parsons

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Detail from Ansley window
Main article: Karl Parsons

This is a partial list of works by English stained glass artist, Karl Parsons (1884–1934), for churches and cathedrals.

In writing about his craft Parsons wrote that to be worthy of it the stained glass artist had to have "a vocation for his job. He must be an artist who loves glass, the look and the feel and the mystery of it. But, above all, he must be an artist with knowledge of, and respect for, the traditions of his craft". Parsons described stained glass as "the most perfect art form known".

Works

The partial list of Parson's works is sorted by date.

Church Location Date(s) Subject, notes and references
St Alban's Church
Hindhead, Surrey 		1908 to 1910 In what was his first independent commission, Parsons completed five windows for this church. In 1908 he executed a two-light window depicting "Christ the Healer". In 1909, he completed the East window, a four-light window depicting the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion and "Noli me Tangere". In the same year he completed a two-light window on the theme "Feed my Sheep". The left hand light is inscribed "Feed my sheep" and the right hand light "In the midst of the throne". Again in 1909 he made a two-light window which features a mother and child in the left hand light with the inscription "Thou shalt call his name Jesus" and in the right hand light we see Jesus with some children and this bears the inscription "He blessed them". Finally in 1910 he executed the window with the theme "Holy Communion" or "Celebrating Mass". Saint Bertha, Queen of Kent, William of Wykeham and the Bishop of Winchester all kneel whilst two children receive communion.[1] See image in gallery shown courtesy Barkingtips.
St George’s Cathedral Cape Town, South Africa 1908–1909 The five apse windows were commissioned from Whall and Parsons in 1908 [2] but only four were completed by 1909 and the fifth was entirely Parsons’ work. This fifth window depicts the Adoration of the Magi in the lower part of the two lights and the Visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon in the upper part. Parsons was to make another window for this Cathedral that being a single light in St David’s Chapel in 1918/9 and was later commissioned to design a window for the North Transept. The work on this window had to be carried out by Edward Woore after Parsons’ death. Apart from his work in the Cathedrals of Cape Town and Johannesburg, Parsons also completed windows for a church in Potchefstroom, South Africa and another in Salisbury, Zimbabwe [3]
All Saints Church
St Andrews, Fife 		1910 Parsons was responsible for the large window in the North Transept entitled "This honour have all his saints" In Parsons’ window there is an emphasis on Scottish saints in particular, and the central light contains a representation of St Andrew's Cathedral. In the larger figures the following saints are represented: Lower row, left, Saints Medana, Andrew, and Kennocha; right, Saints Ninian, Margaret and Patrick. Upper row, left, Saints Maura, Bridget, and Kentigerm; right, Saints Mund, Wilfred, and Columba. St George can be found among the smaller figures grouped above.[4]
St Mary Norwood, Surrey 1911 The church‘s East window is by Parsons. The window is of three-lights and depicts "St George", "The Risen Christ" and "St Michael.".[5]
Old St Paul’s Church Edinburgh, Lothian 1912 Parsons made three windows for the Lady Chapel. They depict "The Presentation in the Temple", "The Annunciation" and "The Nativity.[6]
All Saints Church
Eastchurch, Kent 		1912 The window by Parsons in All Saints’, Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey, is in memory of Charles Stewart Rolls and Cecil Stanley Grace, the first British aviators to lose their lives in aircraft accidents. The window was consecrated in 1912 by Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury. John Newman in the Pevsner series "Buildings of England", wrote that the window was " heavily indebted to the style of Burne Jones." Charles Stewart Rolls (1877–1910) was a motoring and aviation pioneer. Together with Frederick Henry Royce he co-founded the Rolls-Royce car manufacturing firm. He was the first Briton to be killed in a flying accident, when the tail of his Wright Flyer broke off during a flying display near Bournemouth, England. He was aged 32. Cecil Stanley Grace (1880–1910) was a pioneer aviator who went missing on a flight across the English Channel later in 1910. The window was commissioned by the Royal Aero Club and Eastchurch was chosen as both men had done much of their early flying on the Isle of Sheppey. The window is of two lights entitled "Fortitude" and "Hope".[7]
St Michael church
Sulhamstead, Berkshire 		1911 This church became redundant in the 1960s but Parsons’ two windows, both single lights, which had been in that church, were given to The Stained Glass Museum in Ely, where they are on display. One was entitled "St Columba" and the second "The Good Shepherd". Also in the museum is an oval glass panel entitled "Hammer and Tongs". Two medieval characters are shown attacking each other. One pulls his opponent’s hair with a pair of tongs whilst the other hits his knee-cap with a hammer. Parsons used it to illustrate the poem he had written-

"O hark to the hautboys, give ear to the gongs,/That sound for the Tourney of Hammer and Tongs-/ The clang-tankerous sight to which everyone throngs...." [8]

St Barnabas Beckenham, Kent 1913 and 1918. The 1913 window is of two-lights and depicts "Elizabeth" and "Zacharias". It is in memory of Richard Porter. That of 1918 is again of two lights and depicts "Our Lady" and "St Joseph". This window is in memory of K and E.Hancock.[9]
St Matthew's Hastings, New Zealand 1914 to 1930 Parsons completed four windows for this church. The first, a window of five-lights, dates to 1914/1915 and it situated above the altar of the Lady Chapel. It depicts the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Magi as the central theme with various Minstrel Angels in the surrounding lights. It was donated by Lady Hariette Russell in memory of her husband Major-General Sir William Russell and six of their sons. A further three windows were installed in the Lady Chapel on the north wall. Two of these date to 1926 and were donated by Harold Russell in memory of his mother Lady Hariette. The third window was donated by the family of Margaret Candy and installed in 1930.[10]
St Giles' Cathedral Edinburgh, Lothian 1915 Four-light window commissioned for the Cathedral depicts St Columba, St Andrew, St Margaret and St Mund (Mungo) and is a memorial to Lord Archibald Campbell.[5] Image in gallery below shown courtesy Keith Gale.
St Matthew's church
Oxhey, Hertfordshire 		1916 This Grade II listed church dates from 1880 and was built in the Gothic Revival Style. Parsons’ window is in the Lady Chapel and is a three-light window depicting the "Nativity". The window was given to the church by Parsons and his brothers and sisters as a memorial to their parents. The window was partly damaged after the Second World War and repaired and repainted by Edward Woore. There is also a stone plaque in the Lady Chapel inscribed "In loving memory of Karl Parsons Jan 23 1884-Sep 30 1934."[11]
St Mary Whitekirk, East Lothian 1916 Parsons completed a window for this Robert Lorimer restored church.[12]
St Chad
Ladybarn, Lancashire 		1916 Parsons completed a memorial window for this Manchester church remembering Norman Sawers Scott and his brother Ian Sawyers Scott, both killed in the Great War. Norman Sawers Scott was a second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and was killed at Ypres on 23 April 1915. He was 20 years of age. His brother Ian Sawers Scott was also a second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers and was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. He was 19 years of age. The window also remembers William Sawers Scott MD who died 31st January 1923 aged 62 years. On this window Parsons put his "parr and suns" emblem, not something he did often (a parr is a young salmon). The window is on the South wall of the Nave. It is a two-light window and between the lights is a Scottish officer’s sword mounted onto a stone mullion. Below the window there is an inscribed stone tablet. Each window depicts a knight in armour. The knight on the left holds a St George flag and the knight on the right holds a St George shield. The face of each knight is a likeness of the two brothers remembered[13]
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Tenby, Pembrokeshire 		1909 and 1917 The 1909 window is of three-lights. The lights left and right are of plain glass and in the centre light a standing figure of Mary holds lilies. The 1917 window is of four-lights. At the centre of the window the standing, crowned, figure of Christ blesses a soldier in armour, presented by an angel who crowns the soldier. The "new" Jerusalem is shown in the background. Below an angel greets the three women who visit the empty tomb. In the left-hand light a robed female figure holds a shield and broken sword with fire rising behind and castellated walls, with Christ on the cross above in a mandoria. The right-hand female figure stands with her arm chained, the flowers of a tree around her and the Virgin and Child above in a mandoria. Further angels appear in the tracery and rays of light emanate from the uppermost light.[14] Parsons also completed an opus sectile plaque for the church in 1919.[5]
St Laurence
East Harptree, Somerset 		1919 A War Memorial three-light window with St George in the centre light, St Laurence in that to the left and St Agnes on the right. St Agnes holds a lamb.[15] Image shown in gallery below shown courtesy Keith Gale.
St James the Less
Pangbourne, Berkshire 		1919 Four-light East window depicts St George, two scenes from the Nativity and St Michael. See image in gallery below. Window given by Sir George and Lady Armstrong as a memorial to their son, George Carlyon Armstrong and nephew Philip Armstrong, and all the men of the parish who gave their lives in the Great War. There is a plaque in the church which reads " IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING TO GOD AND TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ GEORGE CARLYON ARMSTRONG 2ND LIEUTENANT 1ST BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS/ WHO FELL IN ACTION AT GUINCHY ON JAN 25 1915 AGED 18 YEARS AND OF ALL THOSE IN THIS PARISH WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ THIS EAST WINDOW IS THE WORK OF KARL PARSON AND WAS ERECTED BY SIR GEORGE AND LADY/ ARMSTRONG IN MEMORY OF THEIR SON GEORGE CARLYON ARMSTRONG, THEIR NEPHEW PHILIP/ ARMSTRONG AND MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH A WAR/ MEMORIAL, THE THEME OF THE WINDOW IS PEACE."[16]
St Peter and St Paul
West Newton, Norfolk 		1920 Parsons designed a memorial window depicting St George and remembering those men of the Norfolk regiment who died at Suvla Bay in 1915. The inscription reads "THE NORFOLK REGIMENT/ SUVLA/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY/ OF CAPTAIN FRANK BECK M.V.O.AND HIS MEN/ +THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ ON AUGUST THE TWELFTH NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN". The three-light window has a Norfolk Regiment cap badge in the left hand light and in the centre light Parsons depicts St George with shield which depicts Christ standing above a fallen dragon. An image of Suvla Bay is in the right hand light.[17]
Holy Innocents’ Mount Peel, New Zealand 1920 A two-light window was made for this church, the commission coming through Lowdnes and Drury. One light depicted "Faith and Charity" and the second "The Christ Child". Window dedicated 6 May 1920 and in memory of Mary D.Lysaght, who died January 1916. Parsons received a second commission from this church in 1929, this for a two-light window depicting "The Adoration of the Shepherds".[18]
St Philip Leicester, Leicestershire 1921 A three-light window depicting "Christ in Majesty".[19]
Christ Church
Fulham, Greater London 		1922 Parsons executed three windows for this church, all as War Memorials. A single light window depicts" St Michael the Archangel", and another the "St Michael, the Angel of Peace". There is also a three-light window depicting Christ with St George and St Alban.[20]
Christ Church Yankalilla, South Australia 1922 Parsons completed a lancet window for this church. Features an Angel within a vesica inscribed "Praise to the Holiest in the Heights and in the Depths be Praise" (from Newman’s "Dream of Gerontius").[5]
St Swithun Hempsted, Gloucestershire 1924 Window commemorates Margaret Tew who died from typhoid at the age of 12.[21]
St Martin of Tours Epsom, Surrey 1926 Five-light window celebrates the "Benedicite", the window commemorates a member of the Grellier family.
St Mary Alsager, Cheshire 1926 The Goss memorial window in the South Aisle features St Michael and St Gabriel in an outstanding design by Parsons, which was executed in glass by the London company of James Powell and Sons.[22]
St Nicholas West Lexham, Norfolk Parsons window in the North Aisle has St George in the centre light and honours the memory and bravery of Captain Frank Reginald Beck and the Norfolk Regiment. Frank Beck (3 May 1861 – 12 August 1915) was a Land Agent on the King's Sandringham Estate. He was instrumental in the formation of the Sandringham Company of Volunteers in 1906 which included grooms, gardeners and household staff from the Estate. On 12 August 1915 Beck led his company on an attack at Suvla Bay in the Dardanelles when he and most of his comrades were killed.[23][dubious – discuss]
Christ Church Pukehou, New Zealand In the North of the church is a Parsons designed window.[5]
All Saints’ Porthcawl, Bridgend 1927 to 1928 A five-light East window. "Christ in Majesty" flanked by angels with the heavenly city depicted above in the tracery. Below a seraph stands over the Virgin and child who is being adored by the shepherds and the Magi. At the sides, Peter and Isaiah, opposite Moses and John.[24]
St Andrew Ilford, Essex 1927 to 1931 The architect here was Sir Herbert Baker and Parsons secured commissions for eight windows. Included are "St Andrew", "St Peter", "Remembrance" and "St John the Baptist".[5]
The Church of St Mary Bibury, Gloucestershire 1927 Parsons’ window in the North Chancel wall featured in the 1992 Christmas stamp set issued by the Royal Mail. The window carries the inscription "To the Glory of God and in memory of Rowland.B.Cooper died Oct 16 1910, aged 64 and of Ellen his wife who died Feb 27, 1926, aged 77."[25] Photograph shown in the gallery below shown courtesy Barkingtigs.
St Mary’s Cathedral Johannesburg, South Africa 1927 to 1929 Five-light Apse window for the Cathedral depicts "The Annunciation", "The Visitation", "Virgin and Child in Majesty", "The Nativity" and "The Presentation at the Temple." The architect of the Cathedral was Francis Leonard Hodgson Fleming (1875–1950). Fleming had first met Parsons when Fleming worked in the office of Herbert Baker. He was an assistant there and later a partner, Fleming became a good friend of Parsons and gave him several South African commissions. He also completed a single-light window for the Epiphany Chapel in the Cathedral, this depicting Christ with the Sacraments. In the panels above and below the main figure, Parsons has depicted Christ and the Apostles on the road to Emmaus and the Nativity.[5]
St Michael and All Angels Waterford, Hertfordshire 1929 A single light window depicts St Cecilia.[26]
Church of St James Pyle, Bridgend 1929 Parsons’ two-light window shows the Good Samaritan coming to the aid of an injured man.[27]
St Peter Bardon Hill, Leicestershire 1930 Parsons was responsible for the design of the East window, which is in memory of John Breedon and his wife Harriet Selby Everard. In a letter to the church dated 11 July 1929 Parsons wrote ""I wanted simplicity and fresh, bright but soft colour." In the centre of the window is the Madonna and Child, with the Archangels Michael and Gabriel on either side.[28]
St Laurence Ansley, Warwickshire 1930 Parsons was responsible for the West window in this church. The window depicts a seated Christ in Glory flanked by angels, whilst below a seraphim, bearing a star, is flanked by St Laurence and St Agnes. The bottom row shows the Virgin and Child with children being presented by young angels on either side. The window is dedicated to the memory of W.G. Phillips, great grandfather of Captain Mark Phillips (father of two of the Queen's grandchildren).[5] Photograph shown courtesy Aidan McRae Thomson.
St Bride's Church Kelvinside In the Lady Chapel of this Glasgow church is a window by Parsons which depicts the "Nativity". In describing this window, Parsons wrote that he "wanted to convey a sense of 'deep hush'." In the centre, the sleeping Jesus is watched by his kneeling mother. Four scenes from the Nativity stories in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke complete the window. From Matthew there is the dream of Joseph (bottom left) and the escape to Egypt (top right). From Luke there is the visit of Mary to Elizabeth (top left). Then you see the meeting in the Temple when Simeon recognises Jesus as the Messiah (bottom right).[29]

Image shown in gallery courtesy Keith Gale.

St Mary Potchefstroom, South Africa 1930 Lancet windows depict St Michael and St Gabriel. Parsons made a third window depicting the Virgin Mary.[5]
Christ Church Catshill, Worcestershire 1931 A St Christopher themed window in the East Chapel with the inscription "Thou wilt show me the path of life". In their volume "Worcestershire" in the Buildings of England series, Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner described the window as "fine Arts and Crafts work".
St Augustin Bournemouth, Dorset 1931 West window of two-lights presented in memory of Hector MacKenzie Forbes who had served as a churchwarden from 1914 to 1921. One light depicts the "Annunciation" and the second the "Adoration of the Magi". The tracery light in the latter was painted by Margaret Parsons, Karl’s daughter. As Parsons’ health deteriorated, Margaret often assisted her father to complete commissions.[5][30]
St Peter Brakpan, South Africa 1931 and 1933 Parsons made a window depicting "The Good Shepherd" in 1931 and in 1933 a window depicting "St Peter".[5]
Buwalasi College Chapel Buwalasi, Uganda 1933-34 Five-light window designed by Parsons in collaboration with Edward Woore when Parsons’ health had forced him to leave Shalbourne and move to Putney. The window was commissioned by Arthur Kitching, first Bishop of the Upper Nile. The design incorporates the arms of Ridley Hall in Cambridge. Kitching had been a student there.[5]
St John the Baptist Rudmore, Portsmouth Unknown Parsons window in what was the Lady Chapel. The former church of in Simpson Road has been converted into sheltered flats.[31]
  • Window in St James the Less, Pangbourne.
    Window in St James the Less, Pangbourne.
  • Window in St Mary Bibury
    Window in St Mary Bibury
  • Window in St Albans, Hindhead
    Window in St Albans, Hindhead
  • Window in St Laurence, East Harptree
    Window in St Laurence, East Harptree
  • Detail from St Laurence, East Harptree window
    Detail from St Laurence, East Harptree window
  • Detail from St Laurence, East Harptree window
    Detail from St Laurence, East Harptree window
  • View of St Bride's Kelvinside window
    View of St Bride's Kelvinside window
  • View St Giles, Edinburgh window
    View St Giles, Edinburgh window
  • Three-light window at Ansley.
    Three-light window at Ansley.
  • Another detail from Ansley Three-light window
    Another detail from Ansley Three-light window
  • Three-light window
    Three-light window
  • Memorial window for Frank Beck, West Newton
    Memorial window for Frank Beck, West Newton

See also

Other followers of Christopher Whall

References

  1. ^ St Alban Hindhead Black Faced Sheep Website. Retrieved 3 September 2012
  2. ^ Cape Town work St Mary's Church.Alsager website. Retrieved 3 September 2012
  3. ^ "Stained Glass in South Africa", published by William Waterman Publications of Rivonia in 1994, John Oxley wrote " Parson's first contact with South Africa came in 1908 when Herbert Baker commissioned Whall's studio to design and make the apse windows for St George's Cathedral. An article in an English art magazine emphasised the difference in the qualities of light between England and Cape Town where "windows must be constructed to shut out the glare as well as admit the light". The article continued "Mr Parsons has met this requirement by using the deepest colours it was possible to secure, more especially employing reds, purples and blues. The effect attained was extremely rich and sustained."
  4. ^ All Saints' St Andrews All Saints' website. Retrieved 3 September 2012
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Catalogue of the 1988 William Morris Gallery, London Borough of Waltham Forest Libraries and Art Department's exhibition covering the work of Karl Parsons. The exhibition ran from 24 October to 12 March 1988. The exhibition was sponsored by Imperial Chemical Industries plc and James Hetley & Co. Ltd. Note:Parsons had made a series of glass panels for Imperial Chemical Industries' Millbank Headquarters and Hetley supplied all the glass used in Parson's windows. The notes in the catalogue were written by Peter Cormack, Deputy Keeper of the William Morris gallery.
  6. ^ Old St Paul's Church "The White Rose" Newsletter. Retrieved 3 September 2012
  7. ^ All Saints Eastchurch British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  8. ^ Stained Glass Museum Website of the Stained Glass Museum in Ely. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  9. ^ St Barnabas Beckenham St Barnabas website. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  10. ^ St Matthews Hastings New Zealand New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  11. ^ St Matthews Oxhey Church website. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  12. ^ Whitekirk Sacred Scotland Scotland's Churches Scheme. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  13. ^ "UK National Inventory of War Memorials : N SAWERS SCOTT AND I SAWERS SCOTT WINDOW WW1". Ukniwm.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Karl Parsons. (1884-1934) : the Imaging the Bible in Wales database". Imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  15. ^ "UK National Inventory of War Memorials : ST LAURENCES PARISHIONERS - WW1". Ukniwm.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  16. ^ "UK National Inventory of War Memorials : 2LT G C ARMSTRONG AND MEN OF THE PARISH WW1". Ukniwm.org.uk. 25 January 1915. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Norfolk Churches". Norfolk Churches. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  18. ^ Holy Innocents' Church website. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  19. ^ St Philip Leicester Church website. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  20. ^ "UK National Inventory of War Memorials : CHRIST CHURCH STAINED GLASS WINDOW". Ukniwm.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  21. ^ St Swithun Church Website. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  22. ^ St Mary Alsager Church website. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  23. ^ "Powered by Google Docs". Docs.google.com. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  24. ^ "Christ in Majesty with Scenes and Figures from the Old and New Testaments - artwork from the Imaging the Bible in Wales database". Imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  25. ^ Bibury Bibury Website. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  26. ^ Nadfas Report Nadfas report on St Michael and All Angels. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  27. ^ "The Good Samaritan - artwork from the Imaging the Bible in Wales database". Imagingthebible.llgc.org.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  28. ^ St Peter Bardon Hill Church booklet. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  29. ^ "Information on the stained-glass windows at St. Bride's, Glasgow". Stbride.org.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  30. ^ St Augustin Bournemouth Church website. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  31. ^ Rudmore Hampshire Treasures. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
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