As the window restoration
comes to an end in St. Andrew's, two contrasting photographs of the windows
boarded up in the winter snows of 2011 contrasted with smiling faces, the
Rector and Iona ArtGlass below the Lady Chapel window, reflecting as in a
mirror clearly in 2015. Through all the winds and rain, snow and ice,
scaffolding here, scaffolding there, that has been endured by so many and for
so long is that vision of a bright new dawn in the church's life. The rays of
sunshine reflected clearly, illuminating the interior, wrapped up in the warmth
of worship.
New hand blown panes of glass
are mixed in a random fashion with the old that could be preserved, and is now
difficult to tell which is which. Yet the type of glass is unique to this
church. Glass formed in a mould till it becomes thin and rippled, of uneven
thickness, with or without bubbles and other accidental flaws and
irregularities. This lends to a subtle variation in the intensity of light as
it streams across the church interior. Not least the unique experience of being
close up to the stained glass windows, awestruck by their quality and beauty.
The photographs I took now displayed in church for all to see.
Perhaps this says something of
our human life with all its flaws and irregularities, yet somehow when put
together, pane upon pane, window upon window, it allows the spiritual radiance
of Christ to enrich human life, not least for regular worshippers and visitors
alike.
Much has been achieved, the
windows completed, yet much has still to be done. It is the intention in the
next couple of months to clean the tapestry, renew the curtains, renew the nave
carpet, sand and polish flooring, professionally high clean the church,
re-install the William Morris carpet and much more.
We have much to be grateful
for, not least to God through the work of human hands. As God clothes us with
the garments of salvation our hope is that includes dusters at the ends of
hands as well, as we seek to remove the dust and spring clean at ground level.
Jesus astounded those who
heard him in the synagogue that day, so may we be astounded by what has been
achieved as the journey of faith goes on dusting off that which clings to us,
refreshing us, as we now see in a glass more clearly.
May the love of God continue
to shine in all our lives. Please pray for God's work and witness here in this
place, our ongoing restoration in faith in a church fit for worship in years to
come.
John
Pattinson
Photographs
of the stained glass windows displayed in church can be purchased at a cost of
£25 each. Proceeds to church funds.
