The Children Window

by B. van Cleve

The ‘Children’ window is situated on the west side of St. Peter’s Church. It is a Kempe window and was manufactured in 1910.

This window shows a series of three lights depicting NT scenes with children. Children feature only rarely in NT stories. Two of the lights depict Jesus as a child. One light reveals the attitude of Jesus towards children in general.

Presentation of Jesus

The first light features the presentation of Jesus in the temple of Jerusalem. We see Mary, Joseph and Jesus with halo. Jesus has, even as a baby, three symbols similar to ‘Fleurs de Lys’ in his halo. These are seen as symbol for the trinity.

Mary is kneeling and Joseph holds two young pigeons in his hands. This was the offering that had to be brought for purification after childbirth in accordance with OT law. Originally it was stipulated that a one year old lamb and a young pigeon had to be offered. But if the parents were not able to afford a lamb, they were permitted to just offer two young pigeons instead (Leviticus 12:1-8).

The other two figures in this light represent Hannah, the prophetess, and Simeon. Simeon holds Jesus in his arm and has one hand lifted as if in prayer. Hannah is waiting in the background. She will soon be speaking to all who are waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

On the pillar in the left lower corner, the Kempe logo is visible, in this case the wheat sheaf with the super-imposed black tower. This logo was in use from 1907 to 1934 for windows manufactured by C E Kempe & Co Ltd.

Jesus Blesses Children

The second light shows Jesus with halo and ‘Fleurs de Lys’ and two of the apostles, also with halo. In the background we see a bearded onlooker and then there are two children standing in front of Jesus, a smaller child is on his arm. The banner that is floating around his head reads:

Suffer little children to come unto me

The banner floating underneath his right arm reads:

Feed my lambs

The older disciple next to Jesus with beard is possibly representing Peter, since Jesus commissions Peter in John 21:15: Feed my lambs. The younger disciple, a little behind him without beard, might represent John, who is often considered to be the youngest of the apostles.

Twelve Year Old Jesus in the Temple

The third light shows the twelve year old Jesus in the temple. The figure representing Jesus features a halo with ‘Fleurs de Lys’. Mary and Joseph, both with halo, are depicted in the background with walking staff and maybe travelling clothes, as if they had just arrived. Two small scrolls can be seen in this light, along with two voluminous books.

The dedicational text for this stained glass window can be found in the lower right corner. It reads:

For the love of the Good Shepherd the
Children of the Parish offer this window
on the Feast of St. Peter mcmx.

All images © B. van Cleve

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Floor plan of stained glass windows in St. Peter’s church Brighton