Memorial details

Memorial type
Window
District
Rother
Town
Winchelsea
County
East Sussex
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Maker
DR DOUGLAS STRACHAN LLD FRSA (Artist)
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 21 October 1933
    Attended by: Archbishop of Canterbury
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
17224

Support IWM

Donate with Just Giving

Any gift we receive makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work, from conserving our collection to supporting our public programme.

Make a Donation
Current location

In the north aisle wall
St Thomas the Martyr Church
High Street
Winchelsea
Rother
East Sussex
TN36 4EB
England

OS Grid Ref: TQ 90510 17350
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Three windows in the north aisle by the Lady Chapel were restored as a memorial for WW1. The first window was for land, the second window was for air and fire and the third window was for sea. An inscription is at the top of each window. Dedicatory tablet below the windows. LAND WINDOW: Main theme in the centre consists of a group representing the first death. To the right of the figures is a conqueror attended by captives in chains and to the left of the figures we see a man awed by the eclipse of the sun. Below him is a shepherd guarding his flock and on the other side is a hunter. In the predella is Edward 1 receiving plans of the church, in the centre the effigy is being removed by monks and on the right St Leonard is shown choosing his hermitage. AIR AND FIRE WINDOW: Flame-girt cenotaph in the centre of the window with the figures of fortitude, faith, love and justice surrounding it. Symbol of the holy trinity is above this. Six wheel spheres represent the six days of creation. SEA WINDOW: Sea dominates the window and seen within it are coiling dragon creatures held in check by angel forms. Predella shows old Winchelsea with sea close behind the walls. Ships with flags are depicted.
Inscription
TO THE MEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS AND THE ANCIENT TOWNS OF RYE AND WINCHELSEA, WHO WHETHER ON SEA, LAND OR IN THE AIR, GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THOSE WHO RETURNED SAFE TO THEIR HOMES Westernmost land window: O LORD, HOW MANIFOLD ARE THY WORKS. IN WISDOM HAST THOU MADE THEM ALL. THE EARTH IS FULL OF THY RICHES Centre air and fire window: PRAISE THE LORD FROM THE HEAVENS; PRAISE YE HIM, SUN AND MOON, ALL YE STARS OF LIGHT, FIRE AND HEAT, SNOW AND VAPOUR, STORM AND WIND FULFILLING HIS WORD Easternmost sea window: THEY THAT GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS, THAT DO BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS: THESE SEE THE WORKS OF THE LORD AND HIS WONDERS IN THE DEEP. HE MAKETH THE STORM A CALM, SO HE BRINGETH THEM UNTO THEIR DESIRED HAVEN Tablet: TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE MEN FROM THE CINQUE PORTS AND THE/ ANCIENT TOWNS OF RYE AND WINCHELSEA/ WHO WHETHER ON LAND OR SEA OR IN THE/ AIR GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF 1914/ - 1918 AND IN THANKSGIVING FOR THOSE/ THAT RETURNED SAFE TO THEIR HOMES THE/ THREE WINDOWS IN THIS AISLE WERE RE-/ PAIRED AND FILLED WITH STAINED GLASS/ AND THIS ALTAR WAS SET UP/ A.D. 1933/
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Window
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stained Glass
  • Tablet
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Private
Details: Lord Blanesborough
Responsibility
Winchelsea Parochial Church Council have appointed a Custodian.
Reference
  • DICTIONARY OF BRITISH ART VOLUME V BRITISH ARTISTS 1880-1940 by JOHNSON, J 485 Source: Image Library NIWM Published:ANTIQUE COLLECTORS CLUB 1994 WOODBRIDGE, SUFFOLK
  • Geograph Land window - www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6208948 - accessed 1 May 2020
  • Geograph Sea window - www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4319622 - accessed 1 May 2020
  • St Thomas Church - winchelseachurch.co.uk/visit-us/stained-glass/north-front/ - accessed 1 May 2020
  • St Thomas, Winchelsea Stained Glass Windows - www.stainedglassrecords.org/Ch.asp?ChId=38415 - accessed 1 May 2020
  • THE STORY OF WINCHELSEA CHURCH, 12TH, 19TH AND 21ST EDITIONS

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-17224

For queries, please contact [email protected].