Stained Glass at St Peter's

This page provides a virtual tour around the church's stained glass. Much of the original victorian stained glass at St Peter's was destroyed during the second war by bomb blasts. However, the principal windows were restored or replaced in the 1950s and much fine work remains from the original Victorian period and from the early 20th Century.

The tour starts from the oldest windows and works in an anti-clockwise direction around the church.

If you have any observations or questions about the stained glass windows at St Peter's we should be very happy to hear from you. Some of our records are patchy, and so if you recognise a style - please let us know.

You can send us an e/mail..

John Rowlison Pretty M.D.

Inscription reads: I.M. [in memory] of John Rowlison Pretty M.D. who died December 30th 1857 Aged 35 years by his father William Pretty M.R.C.S.E 1872 [MRCSE – Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England] We start our virtual tour on the North side of the church by the organ. This fragment at the top of the tracery is all that remains of the original window - possibly designed by Ward and Hughes

Thomas and Maria Pope

Inscription reads: To the Glory of God and I.M. of Thomas Pope Esquire and Maria his wife. Erected 1877 by their son M. Pope. “He giveth his beloved Sleep” Moving round anti-clockwise - this fragment at the top of the tracery is all that remains of the original window - possibly designed by Ward and Hughes.

Georgina Tarbutt

Inscription reads: Georgina (Lousada) Tarbutt Departed hence May 3rd 1875 “She is not dead but sleepeth” The fragment at the top of the tracery is all that remains of the original window - possibly designed by Ward and Hughes and most probably Henry Hughes.

Georgina Tarbutt

Centre boss detail showing the distinctive pink colouring to skin which suggests Henry Hughes' work. Arthur Charles Tarbutt was the first vicar of St Peter's serving from 1870 to 1890. It is likely that Georgina Tarbutt was his mother [to be checked]. Arthur Tarbutt was born in 1809 and ordained in 1833. He married in 1844. Tarbutt served as assistant curate at St Paul's Knightsbridge under Robert Liddell.

Samuel and Ann Rawlinson

Inscription reads: To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Samuel Sutton Rawlinson and Ann his wife. This window is dedicated by their children 1882

Samuel and Ann Rawlinson - Detail

No plaque

This window has no plaque. It is possibly by Clayton and Bell.

No plaque - close up

The top centre angel.

Rose Window

Inscription reads: To the Glory of God in memory of Philippina Porock who died May 21st 1898. The Rose Window was provided by her husband Henry Porock. I.P. We now reach the West-end of the building. This window was reinstated in 1953 by Lawrence Lee and restored in 1994 by a generous bequest from Mabel Longmore. See church history for more information about the Apostles and related images. >Church History</A></DIV>

Sanctuary - Apse Windows

These windows by Lawrence Lee replaced windows destoyed in World War II. In nine panels, they represent the sacraments. The North panel of three.

Sanctuary - Apse Windows

The Centre Panel.

Sanctuary - Apse Windows

The south panel.

Queen Victoria

Inscription reads: I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me. AMDG In thankful memory of the life and reign of Queen Victoria. This window is dedicated by the people of this church and parish A.D. 1901. This is the first of the surviving stained windows on the South side of the church. The second vicar of St Peter's the Reverend Henry Baron Dickinson was so moved by the death of Queen Victoria that he wrote to the congregation from Rome on hearing the news. He appealed to them to mark the passing of this great monarch. This window is the result of that appeal. Only the top section within the tracery has survived the second world war. We are grateful for the article below from the Streatham News (P5) of 30th March, 1901, submitted by John W. Brown of the Streatham Society.

Queen Victoria

A close up of the emblems in the tracery - including the rose, shamrock, thistle and what appears to be a leek for Wales, not mentioned in the article below. Article from Streatham News p5 - 30th March, 1901 QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL WINDOW. – One of the earliest windows in memory of Queen Victoria is that designed for St. Peter’s, Streatham, containing three figures representing Self-knowledge, Self-reverence, and Self-control. Surmounting the bust of the Queen and the emblems surrounding it in the tracery are the rose, shamrock, and thistle. The window is from the design of Mr. G.V. Ostrahan. The idea is taken from one of Tennyson’s poems. These three subjects – self-knowledge, self-reverence, self-control – lead on to sovereign power. Mr. Ostrahan was the artist who designed and completed the Archbishop’s window in the chapel of Gray’s Inn, and also the paintings of the chancel screen of the artist’s church at Newlyn St. Peter, Cornwall. The work is being carried out by Messrs. Chater & Son

William Mather Anderson

Inscription reads: To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Mather Anderson who entered into life eternal April XX 1882. This window is placed here by a few loving friends Where I am there also shall my servant be [The inscription is unclear, and so “my servant be” is a guess] This large central boss in the tracery is all that remains of this window.

Reverend P.I. Merton and T.C. Brooks

Lady Chapel - Of loved parents

Inscription reads: In affectionate remembrance of loved parents 1869 Located in the Lady Chapel, this window fared less well than its neighbour in the second world war.

Lady Chapel - St. John the Divine and Zechariah

Left-hand window: St John the Divine He is shown with an inscription: I was in the Spirit This inscription appears twice in the book of Revelation written by St John when he was exiled to the Island of Patmos in the period AD 95 to 97. John is shown with an eagle - representing the soaring majesty of his gospel. There is also a chalice with a dragon climbing out of it. This refers to the cup of sorrow foretold by Jesus, and to the legend of St John drinking poison. Revelation 1: 9-11 I John, your brother, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyraira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. Revelation 4: 1-3 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven and open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! And he who sat there looked like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald. Right-hand window: From Zechariah This window depicts children playing with the inscription: And the streets in the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Zechariah 8:4-5 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand for very age. And the streets in the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. This extract from the Old Testament book of Zechariah refers to the restoration of Jerusalem and figuratively the restoration of the Jewish people.

Lady Chapel - St. John the Divine and Zechariah

The lower detail of this window. There is no plaque on this window, but it is possible that both of the windows in the nave of the Lady Chapel are associated with the dedication to 'loved parents'. This window is the largest window in St Peter's to have survived unscathed by the bomb blasts of the second world war. The Lady Chapel was erected in the first decade of the 20th century. It is probable that the windows also date to that period.

Lady Chapel

The upper detail.

Lady Chapel - Sanctuary Windows 1 & 2

The inscription reads: To the Greater Glory of God in honour of St Mary the Virgin These Sanctuary windows were dedicated in October 1906. 1&2 By Clara Elizabeth Smith in memory of her Parents Sarah Ann Kirby, died Sept 18.1899 and Rayment Kirby, died May 26 1906 RIP 3&4 In memory of Herbert Irons Chope, died Jan 17 1906 RIP 5. Out of devotion to St Mary. 6. In memory of Thomas Jervis, died June 2 1906 RIP 7. & 8 By Ethel Taylor as a thankoffering for spiritual blessings received These first two windows bear the following words which are the taken from the opening verse of a hymn by Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) (Quem terra, pontus, aethera).... Window 1 The God whom earth and sea and sky Adore and Laud and Magnify Window 2 Who governs all the threefold frame To birth as child of Mary came The parchment latin text reads: “Ecce, virgo concipiet et pariet filium” "Behold a virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son.” Isaiah 7:14

Lady Chapel - Sanctuary Windows 3 & 4

Words appear to be taken from a different source Window 3 Beneath th’ o’er shadowing of grace, A maiden lent a dwelling place Window 4 To that dread Lord, whom night and day The sun and moon shall all obey.

Lady Chapel - Sanctuary Windows 5 & 6

Again the words are taken from a different source: Window 5 All that was lost by woful (sic) Eve Thy beauteous Offspring did retrieve Window 6 That mourners might regain the height Heav’n made of thee its window bright

Lady Chapel - Sanctuary Windows 7 & 8

Window 7 Thou wast the great king’s entrance door Light’s gate, through which the sunbeams pour; Window 8 Ye ransom’d nations, hail with [mirth] Life through the Virgin brought to earth. [The word 'mirth' is unclear - to be checked]

East Window

This East Window was erected in 1955 to a design by Lawrence Lee. The original window has this inscription: The above East Window was erected in memory of Col. Charles Wetherall K.C.T. of the 13th Dragoons. Born 23rd July 1795. Died 2nd October, 1868 Send an Email

East Window - St Peter

Baptistery Windows Analysis

Centre Panel - Baptism

The centre panel has three windows dedicated to the sacrament of Baptism. When we are baptised, the priest uses holy water to wash away our sins, as did John the Baptist when he imersed Jesus in the River of Jordon. Baptism is the first sacrament that we receive and the Holy Spirit enters into our lives.

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A detail showing the sign of the cross and the sign of the Trinity. The green and blue wavy lines show the Grace of Christ coming from the cross.

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At the bottom of the design, you can see a circle representing the earth where the seed of faith is planted. Blue wavy lines of baptismal water, probably representing the River of Jordan, flow across the bottom of every window.

Baptistery - Centre Left Window - Death unto sin

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Baptistery - Centre Right Window - Life unto Righteousness

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