The Priory Church - The Stained Glass Windows

Set deep into the West wall of the Priory above the vestry is a tiny window which depicts St.Cuthbert, to whom the Priory is dedicated.

Presented to the Church by a nineteenth-century steward to the Devonshire family, it represents Cuthbert as the Bishop of Lindisfarne, cradling in his arms the severed head of St.Oswald, a martyred Christian king, whose skull is believed to have been interred with his remains at Durham Cathedral.

Because of its location, many visitors miss this lovely piece of work as their attention is captured by the Pugin windows.

The most impressive stained glass within the Priory is unquestionably that designed by Augustus W Pugin and inserted in the windows of the South Wall of the Priory in 1853.

In 36 pictures, it depicts the life of Jesus Christ from the annunciation of his birth to the Virgin Mary, through his childhood, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection.

Examples of two of the Pugin windows are shown below.

Let not the other stained glass be forgotten, however.

Although the Priory contained much stained glass as far back as the 14th century, little of it has survived. In the North wall of the Church, there are 3 upper window sections which contain roundels and crowned heads. Although the faces have not been positively identified, that shown here is believed to be that of King Edward III, who is known to have been a benefactor of the Priory. The glass demonstrates a particularly sophisticated technique known as silver stain which produces gold and white on one piece of glass.

Winter or summer, when the sunlight shines through these windows, the church is bathed in rainbows of colour and enhances the sense of holiness that one feels upon entering.

Powerful as the Internet is, we do not feel able to represent fully the majesty of this glass via a net browser, and so hope that you may have the opportunity to come and see the glass for yourself in person at some time.