Dedicational Texts on Stained Glass Windows

The North Window

The North Window is dedicated to Queen Victoria.

The dedicational text reads:

Giving thanks to Almighty God, the King of Kings, for the Life and happy Reign of Victoria, for 63 years Queen of these realms, the people of Brighton dedicate this window to His Glory and for the adornment of his Church. Feast of St. Peter, A.D. 1906.

Queen Victoria was born 24/05/1819. She ascended to the throne 20/06/1837 and reigned until she died (22/01/1901). She married in 1840 and had nine children, who married into the nobility across the continent. Therefore she was called by some the ‘grandmother of Europe’.

The Crucifixion Window

The Crucifixion Window is dedicated to the memory of Edward Hoadly.

The dedicational text reads:

To the glory of God, and in affectionate memory of Edward Hoadly, churchwarden of Brighton 1896, and who died 30th April 1897, aged 64 years, his widow has caused this window to be erected.

Edward Hoadly (10/07/1832 – 30/04/1897) was born in Northampton Borough, Northamptonshire, to William Hoadly and Sophia Maria Still. He married Emily Pannett (13/05/1830 – 08/01/1862). They had one child, Edward Monk Hoadly, who is commemorated in a different stained glass window. After the death of his first wife, Edward Hoadly married his sister in law, Eliza Cain Pannett (31/10/1827 – 09/01/1903).

The Via Dolorosa Window

The Via Dolorosa Window is dedicated to the memory of Jane and John Chester Craven.

The dedicational text reads:

In honour of the Holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and in memory of John Chester Craven, Civil Engineer, who died June xxvii^th A.D. mdccclxxxvii, aged lxxiii years, and Jane his wife who died June iv^th mdcccxcix, aged lxxiii years, Mary Hallett their daughter dedicates this window.

John Chester Craven was born 11/09/1813 in Hunslet, Yorkshire. He was a locomotive engineer. He married Jane Jefferson (born in 1817) and had four children, among them Mary Craven, who married William Henry Hallett. She dedicated this window. John Chester Craven died 27/06/1887 in Brighton, Sussex.

The Annunciation Window

The Annunciation Window is dedicated to Anne Sophia Hannah.

The dedicational text reads:

To the glory of God and the honoured memory of Anne Sophia wife of John Hannah, Vicar of Brighton, she died February 25th 1876 in the 59th year of her age.

Anne Sophia Hannah (1818 – 1876) was born as Anne Sophia Gregory in Nottinghamshire. She married John Hannah (16/07/1818 – 01/06/1888), the vicar of Brighton, and had two children, John Julius Hannah (1844 – 1931) and Charlotte Mary Hannah (1846 – 1870). She died in Brighton (either 25/02/1876, as the dedicational text says, or in January 1876, the date given in ‘Ancestry’).

The Three Gospel Stories Window

The Three Gospel Stories Window is dedicated to Emily Hoadly and her son Edward Monk Hoadly.

The dedicational text reads:

To the Glory of God & to the dear memory of Emily Hoadly, who died Jan 8th 1862 at 31 & of Edward Monk Hoadly who died April 4^th 1880 at 19 the wife & only child of Edward Hoadly who dedicated this window 1882.

Emily Hoadly (13/05/1830 – 08/01/1862) was born in Brighton, Sussex, as Emily Pannett, the daughter of Richard Pannett (1800-1865) and Ann Lee Cripps (1799 – 1879). She married Edward Hoadly (10/07/1832 – 30/04/1897) and had one child, Edward Monk Hoadly (1861 – 1880). She died in Brighton, Sussex. Edward Monk Hoadly (1861 – 04/1880) was born in Brighton, Sussex. He died when only 19 years old in Brighton, Sussex.

The Three NT Stories Window

The first light of the Three NT Stories Window is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel De Lancey of Guernsey.

The dedicational text reads:

To the Glory of God & the honoured memory of Leut Colonel De Lancey of Guernsey. Born Nov 2nd 1804 died June 25th 1872

Peter De Lancey (02/11/1804 – 25/06/1872) was born in Guernsey. He married Carolina Gardener in Saint James Westminster Parish, Middlesex, on 28/12/1845. He is the father of Lieutenant Colonel John De Lancey, who is also commemorated on a stained glass window in St. Peter’s Church. Peter De Lancey died in Brighton at the age of 65. His military rank was also that of a Lieutenant Colonel.

The second light of the Three NT Stories Window is dedicated to Charles Adolphus Dorey.

The dedicational text reads:

In memory of Charles Adolphus Dorey BA of St Johns College, Cambridge. Died at Elgin April 9th 1876 at 23.

Charles Adolphus Dorey (29/08/1853 – 09/04/1876) was the son of Charles Dorey and his wife Jane Elizabeth. He achieved a BA at S. John’s College, Cambridge, and was a Mathematics Teacher in Elgin, Moray, Scotland, where he died, only 23 years old.

The third light of the Three NT Stories Window is dedicated by Edward Richards Adams.

The dedicational text reads:

To the Glory of God & in memory of blessings received, this light is dedicated by Edward Richards-Adams 1882.

Edward Richards Adams (07/1841 – 14/03/1901) was born in St. Giles, London. He married Frances Fanny Louisa Daveney (1838 – 1899). From 1879 to 1881 he was in St. Peter’s Church Brighton as Clerk in Holy Orders. We do not know which blessings he received, but when he left St. Peter’s Church Brighton in 1881, he became vicar of Basingstoke, where he died in 1901.

The Mary and John Window

The first light of the Mary and John Window is dedicated to Lieutenant John De Lancey.

The dedicational text reads:

In thankfulness to God for the dear memory of Lieut. Col. John De Lancey 71st Regt. who fell asleep 10th August 1923, aged 79 years this window is dedicated.

John De Lancey (25/05/1844 – 25/05/1923) was born in Plymouth, Devon. His parents were Lieutenant Colonel Peter De Lancey and Caroline Gardener, his sister was Annie De Lancey. She was one year younger than John. In the 1911 census John De Lancey is registered as single, retired Lieutenant Colonel, and living in Brighton. He was then 66 years old. He died at the age of 79.

The second light of the Mary and John window is dedicated to Edwin Bower Lethbridge, his wife Margaret Elizabeth and their son Arthur Gordon Lethbridge.

The dedicational text reads:

For a remembrance before God of Edwin Bower Lethbridge who died Feb. 26th 1932, and of Margaret Elizabeth his wife who died April 10th 1919: also of their son Arthur Gordon Lethbridge who died Jan. 25th 1907 this window is dedicated.

Edwin Bower Lethbridge (1849 – 26/02/1932) was born in Newton Abbot, Devon. He married Margaret Elizabeth Lord (08/09/1845 – 10/04/1919), who was born in Margate, Kent. They had (at least) three children. Their son Arthur Gordon Lethbridge (07/1885 – 25/01/1907), who was born in Brighton, died at the early age of 21.

The third light of the Mary and John window is dedicated to Chaplin Baldwin.

The dedicational text reads:

To the Glory of God and in affectionate memory of 1860 Edmund Chaplin Baldwin 1935

Edmund Chaplin Baldwin (10/1860 – 09/06/1935) was born in Freckenham, Suffolk. He married  Dorothy Barraclough (12/1855 – 06/08/1939) and had one son, Harry Bardsley Chaplin Baldwin (08/09/1885 – 29/12/1937).  He is buried at the Extra-Mural Cemetery in Brighton. In the dedication, the last zero of the birth year is lost, but the date is well established in historic documents.

The Peter Window

The Peter Window is dedicated to Arthur Loader.

The dedicational text reads:

Arthur Loader, churchwarden of Brighton 1891 – 1895. Erected by his friends. Born October 1st 1839. Died April 4th 1895.

Arthur Loader (01/10/1839 – 06/1895 or 04/04/1895) married Louisa Field (1847 – 11/08/1931). She was born in Brighton.  The couple had eleven children. Arthur and Louisa died in East Sussex.

The Ruth Window

The Ruth Window is dedicated to Ruth Major and her husband Richard Major.

The dedicational text reads:

To the Glory of God, and in memory of Ruth Major, who worshipped in this church, and died May 3rd 1936 also in memory of Alderman Richard Major husband of Ruth, churchwarden of this parish for 20 years, died 6th December, 1948.

Ruth Major (1863 – 03/05/1936) was born in Brighton as Ruth Page. She married Richard Major (07/1867 – 06/12/1948), a master butcher, churchwarden and 1926 mayor of Brighton, who was born in Folkestone, Kent. They had two children. Richard and Ruth both died in Brighton.

The Fisher Window

The Fisher Window is dedicated to Annie Barbara, wife of John Julius Hannah.

The dedicational text reads:

This window was dedicated on the Feast of St. Peter 1909, in grateful memory of Annie Barbara, wife of John Julius Hannah, Vicar of Brighton 1888 – 1902, and Dean of Chichester, who died May 10: 1907.

Annie Barbara Hannah is listed as Anne Thomson (25/07/1857 – 30/08/1907) in some online sources. She was born in Toothills, Annan, DFS, Scotland as daughter of Alexandrina Shannon and William Charles Thomson. She married John Julius Hannah (06/1844 – 01/06/1931), and they had 5 children, among them the later Lieutenant William Maitland Julius Hannah (06/05/1876 – 21/10/1899), who is remembered in two memorial plaques in St. Peter’s Church.

The Side-Hall Window

The Side-Hall Window is dedicated to Francis Dormer Pierce.

The dedicational text reads:

In grateful memory of Francis Dormer Pierce, Vicar of Brighton, 1917 – 1923 in whose heart it was to build this hall.

Francis Dormer Pierce (1870 – 12/1923) was born in St. Albans, Herts. He married Mabel Caroline Woolley (1866 – 26/01/1951), who was born in Southborough, Kent. They had no children. He died in Steyning, Sussex, she died in Brighton.