The Clegg window

The Clegg window has an interesting story. The Vicar at that time received a letter one day from a solicitor, informing him that a sum of money had been left in the will of Dr Clegg for the purchase of a stained glass window for the church. He was of course delighted and lost no time in giving the news to the church council. Everyone was a little surprised by the bequest, as no-one had known Dr Clegg well. They were even more surprised when a local solicitor, Mr Shimmeld, came forward and volunteered the fact that he was in possession of a will also promising the same gift. He could not of course divulge details, but he hoped the gift from Dr Clegg would not be accepted in preference to that of his client (who was at this point still living). His “client” was of course himself, but as there was space for two windows, both men’s wishes could be accommodated. Dr Clegg had lived on Werneth Hall Road with his sisters, and had also left money for windows in St Andrew on Middleton Road and All Saints on Chadderton Street. Perhaps he had practised in these neighbourhoods. A slight problem emerged when it was discovered that alterations to the stonework would be so expensive that not a great deal would be left for the actual glass. This is why the Clegg window now stands out, with its use of bright clear glass as a background. It is a tribute to E.R. Smith that he managed to produce such a beautiful window at a reasonable price. The central panel shows St Luke, the patron saint of doctors. In the right-hand panel is the open Bible, appropriate to St Luke as author of one of the gospels. There is a tradition that St Luke was a painter as well as a doctor, and a further tradition that he sought out Jesus’ mother and obtained from her those details of His childhood which appear only in St Luke’s gospel. So in the left-hand panel we see St Luke with the portrait he is said to have made of Mary.

 

 

Here is the detail showing the open Bible enlarged and below is the image of the Blessed Virgin