Stained Glass at Tewkesbury Abbey
Tewkesbury Abbey is famous for the medieval stained glass in its seven quire windows. However, it is less well known that the Abbey also possesses a fine collection of Victorian stained glass, as well as some excellent modern examples.
On entering the nave it is difficult to be unimpressed by the scale of the west window, constructed in 1686 to replace one blown in by the wind in 1661. The stained glass, however, was not installed until 1886, commissioned by the Revd C.W. Grove as a memorial to his late wife. The scenes depicted follow the journey of Christ from his birth to his ascension.
Set into the walls of the north and south aisles is a series of Victorian stained glass windows chronicling the life and deeds of Jesus. In one window we see the Feeding of the Five Thousand, in others the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ descent from the cross.
The seven medieval windows in the quire clerestory are among the outstanding survivors of 14th century glass in Europe. Clockwise from the left, they show Robert Fitzroy, Gilbert de Clare, Hugh Despenser II and Robert Fitzhamon; King David and four prophets; King Solomon and four prophets; The Last Judgement; King Rehoboam and four prophets; King Abijah and four prophets; William de la Zouche and three de Clare earls.
The most recent stained glass to be seen consists of two spectacular and very different windows in the chapel of St Catherine and St John the Baptist. They were created by Tom Denny to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the monks’ arrival at the Abbey, the theme being the Benedictine motto 'to work is to pray'. These windows were generously funded by the Friends of Tewkesbury Abbey.