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This like the East Window is also a five light window with tracery lights above, but in a different configuration. The rich colouring of this window is particularly striking when seen in late afternoon or evening sunlight. The window depicts The Ship of the Church approaching land and on the shore the buildings of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. On board are many saints and other characters, these include St Peter and St Paul who are steering the ship, St George with a little boy and girl, St Augustine, the first Archbishop of the English Church, Empress Helena, The Blessed Virgin, St Mary Magdalene, King Oswy, Our Lord, King Canute, Alcuin, The Crucifix, this is always carried near the gangway of the ship which all saluted. We believe this custom carries on today in the Royal Navy. King George V and Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York are there also. Look at the shields around the ship they show coats of arms of Canterbury, Durham, Chester, Liverpool, Ripon, Sheffield, Newcastle, Bradford, Carlisle, Manchester, Wakefield and York. The gaily coloured flags, banners and sails bear various Christian emblems such as the Flag and Lamb, the Pelican with its young, the Lantern indicative of the ‘Light of the World’. A the top of the mainmast a group of choristers join in the singing of the praises with the birds. The group of cherubs at the top suggest the Four Winds, in the tracery are signs of the Zodiac and various celestial bodies such as the Sun which gives the sailor his course, and the Moon which governs the tides. The Holy Spirit is seen descending on the Ship of the Church and also on the font below the window. The saints at the bottom are chosen owing to the proximity of the window to the Font in which children of the parish are baptised St Ursula, Patron of Girls, is depicted with a young girl. St Nicholas of Moyra, Patron of Boys, is shown with a Boy Scout. Finally St Edward, the Confessor, Patron Saint of the Church.
Look up at the East Window. The window is a five light window with tracery lights above. In the upper lights can be seen a radiant crown, angels with the letters ‘A’ and ‘0’ representing Alpha and Omega, a dove symbolising the Holy Spirit, and emblems of the Evangelists similar to those on the pulpit. The larger seven lobed tracery lights contain the coats of arms of the Diocese of Wakefield on the left, and the See of York on the right. Six small tracery lights each contain a star. The five main lights are full of interesting detail. In the centre at the bottom is a Lamb on an Altar signifying the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, on the front of the altar are the words ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’, and in the foreground are two cherubs swinging censers. In the middle centre Our Lord is shown crucified and hanging on a living tree reminding us of the Tree of Life, the leaves of which were for the healing of the nations, and streams of water issuing from the base of the tree. Look in the book of Revelations, chapter 22, verses 1 to 6 in your Bible.In the background we get a glimpse of the New Jerusalem. In the upper centre Our Lord is seen seated in glory, holding an orb in his left hand, and his right hand raised giving his blessing. Underneath is inscribed: ‘Thou only O Christ with the Holy Ghost art most high in the glory of God the Father’. Under the inscription are emblems of the Passion. Read about the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelations in chapter 21. The eight small shields are held by angels and show the nails, hammer, pincers, sponge. spear. dice, vesture and ladder. In the two lights adjoining the centre light two archangels are seen at the top, probably Gabriel at the left holding lilies and Michael at the right with a sword and scales. Below them and on one side of our crucified Lord stands the Blessed Virgin, and on the other side stands St John. In the bottom sections of these two lights on the left St Edward is seen kneeling with Westminster Abbey in the background, and on the right St Peter is seen kneeling with York Minster in the background In the outer two lights are groups of saints in adoration of our Lord. Starting with the outer left light from top to bottom, we have the prophet Isaiah holding a book, King David with a harp, St John the Baptist holding a lamb on a charger, St Stephen with a handful of stones, St Blaize holding a staff, St Mary Magdalene holding an ointment vase, St Etheldreda with a staff and a book, the Venerable Bede holding a book, and St Aidan with a staff and a book. In the outer right light from top to bottom we have St Paul holding a book and a sword, St Andrew holding a hook, St James major with a staff and a hook, St Alban holding a cross and a sword, St Ethelburga Queen, St Oswald with a bird in his left hand, St Hilda with a staff and a book, St Caedmon with hands crossed and St Cuthbert with a staff in the right hand and a weasel in the left hand. THE MILLER WINDOWS IN THE NORTH AISLE
The first pair of windows nearest the Lady Chapel, depict St Martha holding keys in her right hand and a basket of bread in her left hand, and St Mary Magdalene holding an ointment vase. These windows were given by Mary and Bertha Miller in memory of their sister Blanche.
The windows adjoining show in the left light a figure of St Cecelia holding in her left arm a six-tubed musical instrument; in the right light a figure of St Helena holding a cross in her right hand and a book in her left hand These windows are in memory of Mary and her son, James Donnison Miller. They were placed here by Mary, Bertha and Blanche Miller. Read the inscriptions on the brass plates beneath these windows.
THE MEMORIAL TO THE FALLEN WINDOWS
South side of the church where there are four, twin-lancet windows. The first pair of windows near to the door leading to the vestry contains the figures of St George and St Michael, and these windows are dedicated to the Glory of God and in memory of the men of the parish who gave their lives in the 1914-1918 war. At the foot of the window there is an inscription: ‘To the Glory of God and in sacred memory of Fred Johnson King, 21St Batt. K.R.R.C., died at Aldershot, April 4th 1916; in his 28th year’ Close by to these windows are the memorial tablet and brass plaque which commemorates those who gave their lives in two world wars. The next pair of windows also date from the first world war and depict St Edward the Confessor and King Charles, Martyr.
The Gaimster window, the third, dating from 1954 depicts in the left light St Paul with his traditional emblem of a sword, and Handel composing the Messiah; in the right light St Anne is teaching a young Virgin Mary to read, and a family scene of the boy Jesus with Joseph and Mary in the carpenter’s shop.
The last pair of windows, called the Deighton windows date from 1964. The light on the left is based on a drawing of Christ of the Apocalypse attributed to Brother William, a contemporary of St Francis and one of his English followers; the original drawing is in the British Museum. The light on the right depicts St Francis of Assisi receiving the Stigmata, the marks of the wounds of Christ, while at his feet a cloak falls to the ground in a cruciform manner.
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