Pre-Dissolution stained glass in Cornwall

Pre-Dissolution stained glass in Cornwall A gazetteer

Dr Joanna Mattingly and Michael G. Swift

A version of this gazetteer was published in the CVMA magazine Vidimus, vol 31, July/August 2009.

This month we are delighted to publish a pioneering gazetteer of pre-Dissolution glass in England’s most south westerly county: Cornwall. In the early sixteenth century the Cornish church included six monasteries, two friaries, three collegiate churches, some hospitals and 209 parishes or parish–like areas, together with numerous chapels, some linked to private houses. There are over 215 ecclesiastical medieval buildings or sites

We are extremely grateful to Dr Joanna Mattingly, a specialist on Cornish churches and a member of the Truro Diocesan Advisory Committee, and to Michael G. Swift, the stained glass advisor to the Truro Diocesan Advisory Committee, for kindly allowing us to publish a copy of their important gazetteer which lists forty-nine public sites in the county with early glass, far more than previously thought. In all cases, the location of the windows and some indication of their subject-matter, where known, are given. Illustrations of some of the glass can be found in the Picture Archive of the main CVMA site.

Introduction

Although our survey for the Truro Diocesan Advisory Committee found traces of medieval glazing in nearly fifty Cornish churches (or just under a quarter of the total), only three now contain complete pre-Dissolution windows: St Neot, St Kew and St Winnow. In view of the importance of these windows, some brief introductory words might be helpful.

The earliest window (remains of the east window) is part of a major glazing scheme at St Neot and appears to date from the early to mid-15^th century. Further windows were glazed there as funds were raised including the Old Testament windows which date from the 1480s or very early 1490s. The rest of the south aisle windows at St Neot are from the 1500s–10s, while the north aisle was glazed during the 1520s and early 1530s (on the basis of three of the last windows there being dated 1528–30).

The St Kew Passion of Christ windows probably date from the 1480s or very early 1490s. A Jesse window in the south chapel may also date from the fifteenth century. The St Winnow’s window can be assigned to the 1460s.

All these glazing schemes were part of a major rebuilding/refurbishment campaign which transformed the appearance of Cornish churches during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. St Kew’s scheme seems to have been finished around 1500 while St Neot’s was still being completed as the Reformation unfolded. Surprisingly in view of the comparatively early date (in a Cornish context) of its south chapel, St Winnow was left unfinished (it still retains its north transept of 13^th or 14^th century date). Of these churches, the glazing schemes at St Neot most closely reflect the pattern of enlargement of many Cornish churches. Documents show that short gaps between projects allowed for recovery before a fresh surge of fund-raising. Documentary evidence suggests that most of Cornwall’s medieval windows probably survived the Reformation with just a few faces and controversial images being removed. Major iconoclasm was delayed until the third Civil War period (1650–1) when Parliamentary soldiers went on a well documented glass-breaking spree. Eighteenth-century neglect and Victorian restorations led to further losses, while choice fragments were also given to visiting antiquarians. Information about lost glass has been largely ignored here.

Cornish stained glass

Pre-Dissolution stained glass in Cornwall A gazetteer

Introduction

Gazetteer

Further reading