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I have recently read an article from a wedding photographer who never uses a flash. relying on natural light aided by an occasional reflector. Needless to say the results she achieved were remarkable.
It was in my head when I took this (unawares) portrait of an old friend of mine as he stared into space for a moment.
Designed by Francis Spear and dedicated in 1929, this window in the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, Eccles, Lancashire was donated by the sons of Dr William Worrell Mayo, in memory of their father. Dr Mayo was baptised in Eccles in 1819 but emigrated to the USA in 1845 and died in Rochester, Minnesota in 1911. His two sons also became surgeons and the three men worked together in St Mary's Hospital in Rochester when it was opened by the Sisters of St Francis in 1889.
In 1909 the father and his two sons set up the world's first integrated group practice, which is now the world renowned Mayo Clinic, with a staff of almost two thousand. The emblems in the window were specifically chosen to illustrate Dr Mayo's interests and achievements.
Stained glass in the east window at Branston by Keith New, 1965.
All Saints church at Branston is a remarkable building, its slender spire sits upon a Saxon tower promising the visitor a building of great antiquity, whilst the nave and aisles betray a 14th century date (clerestorey probably added a century later) followed by a chancel whose style suggests a 13th century origin given its lancet-headed windows. It is only the eastern face of the chancel with its unusually designed 20th century 'lattice' window that hints at the major changes inside.
At Christmas 1962 a fire broke out in the chancel causing widespread damage to the interior of the church. The chancel itself was gutted, whilst much of the roof over the nave and the north aisles was also destroyed, though happily the late medieval carved wooden benches in the nave survived intact. The church then had the good fortune to employ architect George Pace to restore the building, which he did by extensively remodelling the ruined chancel (replacing the east wall with the latticed window mentioned earlier) and replacing the roof and furnishings in his trademark linear style, which balances both medieval and modern form.
The resulting interior is truly a thing of beauty, a hugely successful blending of ancient and modern, with something of the best of each. The focal point of the interior is now the superb east window by Keith New, a rich abstract composition that spans Pace's delicate mullions to make a single unit of the multiple apertures. The effect of this deep colour against the whitewashed interior of the modernised chancel is quite magical. The west end of the nave is dominated by Pace's new organ case with a grid-like form,(adorned with Victorian carvings from the former chancel screen) whilst above the nave ceiling has been recreated in its 15th century form, reusing some carved figures of angels from the original that have been gilded.
This is a stunning church, a highly unusual and most imaginative example of how an ancient building can be revived after a disaster, resulting in a delightful fusion of ancient and modern. It deserves to be better known.
Unfortunately the church is generally kept locked outside of services so it will be necessary to make an appointment to see the interior with one of the churchwardens. I am extremely grateful to one of them, Nigel Dickin, who kindly came to unlock for me at very short notice and allowed me to enjoy this beautiful interior. His photostream (including some good photos of the church) can be seen below:-
You can imagine lutes playing in the background, as you look over the Quercob Region of the Pyrenees from Château de Puivert, France.
Viewed through the steamy window of an adjacent train, we see a touch of yesteryear luxury travel on the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.
For Our Daily Challenge topic - 'Window,' one of my very favorite things to photograph. Another is certainly Wiki. So its so nice that she stayed around and allowed these photos this early morning.