This window was designed to celebrate the life, family and friendships of Robert Holden 1956 – 2014, late of the parish and, until his premature death, owner of the Sibdon Estate. Robert grew up on the estate and had a lifelong association with the church. The window was commissioned in his memory by his family and great friend from the United States, Alfred D. Chandler and his wife Susan.
The design is based on a watercolour by Robert’s sister Jenny Jones, an established artist who lives in Bishops Castle. It was truly a ‘joint project’, Helen interpreting Jenny’s design to work in stained glass before selecting, cutting and sandblasting the glass. She then assisted Jenny to do much of the painting herself before assembling and installing the window.
Whilst in glass and lead the finished window is necessarily bolder than Jenny’s painting, it is hoped that it retains the essence of her design.
The theme of the window celebrates the rural setting of the church and the many memories of the family who were brought up there, summarised in the inscription taken from Genesis ch.1 v.31 ‘And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good’. The two lights represent day and night, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of each day and of our life, surrounded by the beauties of the earth.
