Christ with St Ffraid, St Elizabeth and St John the Baptist
Photo © Martin Crampin
1940
Three-light window with standing figures, John the Baptist shown as a child with his mother in the right-hand light.
artist: Christopher Charles Powell
Church of St Ffraid, Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
east wall of the chancel (window number: I)
The window was given by Edward Dean in memory of his mother Elizabeth Dean (1839–1913). Powell based the face of Elizabeth on a photograph of the donor's mother. The history of the church, written by George Lees, refers to the difficulties of the artist while designing the window in August–September 1939 that are found in surviving correspondence, during which time he reports his dismay at having mislaid the photograph. The window was installed in April 1940.
The image of Ffraid, or Brigid, holding fire in her hand, refers to the tradition that she came to Wales across the sea on a turf of grass. The story is known from a Welsh poem dating to the sixteenth century, and she arrives in Wales at different places according to local traditions. One tradition locates her arrival at Tywyn-y-Capel, the beach at Trearddur Bay, and a chapel dedicated to her there has long since been lost to the sea in the dunes.
Three-light window with standing figures, John the Baptist shown as a child with his mother in the right-hand light.
artist: Christopher Charles Powell
Church of St Ffraid, Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
east wall of the chancel (window number: I)
The window was given by Edward Dean in memory of his mother Elizabeth Dean (1839–1913). Powell based the face of Elizabeth on a photograph of the donor's mother. The history of the church, written by George Lees, refers to the difficulties of the artist while designing the window in August–September 1939 that are found in surviving correspondence, during which time he reports his dismay at having mislaid the photograph. The window was installed in April 1940.
The image of Ffraid, or Brigid, holding fire in her hand, refers to the tradition that she came to Wales across the sea on a turf of grass. The story is known from a Welsh poem dating to the sixteenth century, and she arrives in Wales at different places according to local traditions. One tradition locates her arrival at Tywyn-y-Capel, the beach at Trearddur Bay, and a chapel dedicated to her there has long since been lost to the sea in the dunes.
Record added by Martin Crampin. Last updated on 25-09-2024
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This work is indexed under the following main subject(s):
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- Christ as adult - not in biblical context
- Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist
- John the Baptist as child - Madonna-representations
- St Brigid (Bridget) of Ireland
- St John the Baptist
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Further reading
Martin Crampin, Welsh Saints from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2023), pp. 12–13, 188.
George Lees, A History of St Ffraid's Church Trearddur Bay (2005), pp. 31–5.
Click to show suggested citation for this record
Martin Crampin (ed.), Stained Glass in Wales Catalogue, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth, 2024.
https://stainedglass.delweddau.cymru/object/4105 (accessed 23 November 2024)
https://stainedglass.delweddau.cymru/object/4105 (accessed 23 November 2024)
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