All text and photographs taken from the book, ‘The Windows of St. Paul’s Church, Woldingham’ printed in 2020:
This book is dedicated to The Reverend Dr Catherine Dowland-Pillinger and the Woldingham Parochial Church Council, the Woldingham History Society, and the Reverend Charles Bradshaw, former Vicar of Woldingham.
The book is the culmination of a project begun in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Janine Battersby worked with Marie-Ange Bouchard, photographer, and Jennifer King of the Woldingham History Society following on from the Memorial Book of St. Paul’s Church that was presented in 2019.
The story of the donor of this church, Alexander Shaw and his family, is well documented elsewhere.
Presented in October 2021, as a record of these remarkable windows.
Henry the Navigator
Apse. One light of a set of five, designed to show the ship in the power of the Gospel and reflect the moods of the sea.
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1933.
Donor: Lady Inchcape, in memory of her late husband, the 1st Earl of Inchcape.
Henry the Navigator, a Prince of Portugal, consecrated his life to the navigation of the coast of Africa. He peers through the darkness, lantern in hand. The sea mood is the faith and courage required to traverse uncharted seas, the sinister solitude of the night sea only heightened by the Southern Cross burning in the heavens above.
On the small carved and coloured panel below, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, are two of the Crosses set up by the navigators of the promontories of Africa, the Southern Cross and the Helm.
In 1947, this window was also dedicated to the memory of Fred Hodgson, who was killed in the First World War, son of the farmer at Nether Court, at a private ceremony attended only by the Rector, Fred’s widow and son.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Henry the Navigators Arrow
Two of the Crosses set up by the Navigators and the Helm.
Placed below Henry the Navigator’s window.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Augustine
Apse. One light of five, designed to show the ships in the power of the Gospel and reflects the moods of the sea.
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1933
Donor: Lady Inchcape, in memory of her late husband, the 1st Earl of Inchcape.
St. Augustine is seen coming with the sunrise to the coast of Thanet, Kent, the light breaking through a Channel fog.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Augustine’s Arms
The Cross Pallium and the Lily.
Placed below St. Augustine’s window.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Christ Walks on the Water
Apse. One light of a set of five, designed to show the ship in the power of the Gospel and reflect the moods of the sea.
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1933.
Donor: Lady Inchcape, in memory of her late husband, the 1st Earl of Inchcape.
A sense of presence is engendered by this challenging panel of Christ walking on the eerie moonlit water, vague forms haunting the surrounding sea; a centre piece in line with a prayer written by the Hon. Alexander Shaw. “Put away from us the spirit of fear; give us faith and love and a sound mind”.
Christ reassures his disciples with the words, “Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid’.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Aidan
Apse. One light of a set of five, designed to show the ship in the power of the Gospel and reflect the moods of the sea.
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1933.
Donor: Lady Inchcape, in memory of her late husband, the 1st Earl of Inchcape.
St. Aidan is seen coming from Iona to evangelise the North of England. He is arriving in a North Sea gale, lashed by cold rain and has a rainbow in the sky.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Aidan’s Arms
The symbol of the Stag.
Placed below St. Aidan’s window.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Francis Xavier
Apse. One light of a set of five, designed to show the ship in the power of the Gospel and reflect the moods of the sea.
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1933.
Donor: Lady Inchcape, in memory of her late husband, the 1st Earl of Inchcape.
St. Francis Xavier, the first great missionary to Japan and India, is shown on the golden sea of the East, holding up his crucifix in the full glare of the oriental sun, with an Indian temple in the background.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
St. Francis Xavier’s Arms
This plaque shows the symbols of St. Francis Xavier, the Cross of Passion, the Bible, the lotus of India and the Chrysanthemum of Japan.
Placed under St. Francis Xavier’s window.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
The Arms of Burma
Chancel, south side, shield shaped medallion, removed from north nave window in 1939.
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1933.
Donor: Hon. Alexander Shaw
Depicts the Arms of Burma, the peacock in its pride.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
The Arms of Scotland
Chancel, south side, shield shaped medaliion, removed from north nave window in 1939.
Artist: Herbet Hendrie.
Donor: Hon. Alexander Shaw.
The Arms of Scotland representing the ancestral roots of the Shaw and Inchcape families.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
The Arms of Bombay
Chancel, north side, shield shaped medallion, removed from north nave window in 1939.
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1933.
Donor: Hon. Alexander Shaw.
Depicts ships and a hill fort on the River Indus.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
The Adoration
Baptism in Jordan
Christ Blessing the Children
Baptistry, west window
Artist: Dr Douglas Strachan, 1936
Cost £400, donated anonymously by a lady
Left: The Wise Men and Shepherds visit the infant Jesus.
Centre: The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. Two angels hold the Crown of Thorns and the Crown of Glory, surmounted by the Dove.
Right: Jesus blesses the Children, one of whom holds a ball.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Faith
Nave, south side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1940.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his wife, Lady Craigmyle
Jesus rewards the persevering Faith of the Canaanite woman.
The panel above shows Paul and Barnabas healing the lame man at Lystra.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Hope
Nave, north side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1940. Signed.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his wife, Lady Craigmyle.
Beneath the rainbow, the symbol of hope, King David, the psalmist, with harp in hand singing “Blessed is he whose hope is in the Lord his God” and St. Paul with quill poised and ink horn at his wrist writing “The God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing”.
Above, Christ rises from the tomb, the source of Christian hope.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Charity
Nave, north side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1940.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his late wife, Lady Craigmyle.
This window shows Dorcas spinning her thread to make clothes for the poor. Also Lydia, who gave hospitality to Paul, dipping her cloth in the purple dye.
Above, St. Paul writes “the greatest of these is charity”. 1 Cor. 13
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Misericordia
Nave, north side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1938.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his late father.
Christ healing the blind and the disciple giving the cup of cold water.
Above, Christ preaching good news to the poor.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Fidelitas
Nave, north side
Fidelitas, one of the three virtues of the Craigmyle arms.
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1938.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his late father.
St. John is seen with the pilgrims’ staff faithfully following his Master, and St. Paul holding a sword and book.
Above, Jesus on the cross with Mary and John close beside him.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Jus
Nave, north side
Jus, one of the three virtues of the Craigmyle arms.
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1938.
Donor: Lord Craigmyle in memory of his late father.
The blindfolded figure of Justice with swords and scales, Christ tipping the scales in Mary Magdalene’s favour by throwing his Crown of Thorns.
Above is The Last Judgement.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Goodness
Nave, south side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1939.
Donor: Lady Craigmyle in memory of her mother Jean, Lady Inchcape.
Shows Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and Peter, the disciple who “made good”.
In the panel, Mary, the Good Woman who brings the Divine Goodness into the world.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Truth
Nave, south side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1939.
Donor: Lady Craigmyle in memory of her mother Jean, Lady Inchcape.
The Wise Men, representing human wisdom, offering their treasures to the infant Christ, God’s Truth incarnate.
In the panel above, we see the Flight into Egypt, warning us that men often reject God’s Truth, thinking they know better.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard
Beauty
Nave, south side
Artist: Herbet Hendrie, 1939.
Donor: Lady Craigmyle in memory of her mother Jean, Lady Inchcape.
St. Margaret of Scotland and the figure of Hope, manacled but with eyes looking up to the light.
In the panel above, Christ as Alpha and Omega.
Photo © Marie-Ange Bouchard