Baptism
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This window in the Baptistry or South Trancept is by Gordon MacWhirter Webster. It replaces the 1861 Girdwood window, installed by the old Corstorphine family, the Girdwoods, in memory of John Girdwood. It was replaced in 1970 when its leading had perished. The window has three lights and depicts "Christ in Majesty". In the upper half the Christ burns in ruby-red, seated on the rainbow of Revelations. The lemon-yellow celestial crown just breaks into the side lights throwing red tongues of flame to the earthly figures below. The sun, moon and stars are in the tracery, and immediately above His head are seven candlesticks, at His feet the alpha and omega and the waters which divide heaven and earth; He holds the orb and the seven stars. The flanking angels bear the cup and sheaf of corn. Below in the central light John Baptises the earthly Christ and in the sidelights are men, women, and children of different races who symbolise the universality of baptism. One of the characteristics of Webster’s window are the long fingered hands. Note small Latin inscription on the staff in centre pane, "ECCE AGNUS DEI", meaning, "Behold the Lamb of God".
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Gordon Webster who died in 1987 was one of a group of artists who in this century created Scottish ecclesiastical stained glass of outstanding quality. His skill was in his sense of colour and his use of hand blown glass so that his windows have great brilliance.
Like Ballantine Webster followed in the family firm. Michael Donnelly notes in his book Scotland's Stained Glass (The Stationary Office, 1997. ISBN 0 11 495793 2 [p96]), "Gordon McWhirter Webster’s father Alfred A. Webster was a Stained Glass artist between 1884-1915. On his death his widow continued to operate her dead husband's firm. In 1929 it finally passed under the direct management of Alf’s son Gordon who had been an infant at the time of his father's death. Mrs Webster had managed to keep the studio solvent by placing the practical management of the glass shop in the hands of the firm's former apprentice and assistant Douglas Hamilton. Hamilton trained Gordon, but like him he was for a number of years strongly influenced by his late father’s work. His fine early windows might very well be mistaken for that of his father's. However by the mid-1930s he had discovered his own voice and some of his work from this period are very fine indeed, particularly the windows in St Columba's Parish Church in Largs. Favoured by the Church of Scotland, his output was prolific.
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One of his best works, a great rose window depicting Christ in Majesty from St.Mary's Church Partick, now in the People's Palace collection, and was a focal point in the Interdenominational Church at the Glasgow Garden Festival, 1988." Note the similarity of the centre of the St.Mary’s window and the middle panel of The Old Parish window. |
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The fine tracery of the Girdwood window was retained in 1970 when the Webster window was installed. The original window was made in Munich painted glass and represented Christ weeping over Jerusalem, the raising of Lazarus, and the Parable of the Talents. The Girdwood’s originally lived at the Lairdship, Sighthill, and the last Girdwood's lived at Fixby (The Cedars), St.John’s Road, they were wool merchants. Their Gravestones are large table stones, outside the church, below this window and on large panels across the path at he old kirk dyke. The cost of either the 1861 or 1970 windows are not known. (St.Mark Chapter1 vv9-11) |
These Pages were researched and written by
Kevin Aitchison © 2001The
Corstorphine Trust.
Information on Gordon Webster courtesy of M. Donnelly from his book Scottish
Stained Glass (The Stationary Office, 1997. ISBN 0 11 495793 2)
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Copyright © 2001-07 The Corstorphine Trust. Please see our standard disclaimer |
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