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The more obvious features of Chilham — the Castle,
the picturesque aspect of the village, and, in the church, the
monuments, are apt to occupy so much of the visitor's time that the
remains of medieval painted glass are very often overlooked. Yet in a
country where in the parish churches the student of old glass has to
look for fragments rather than complete windows, these remains must be
accorded a high place; and I hope that this short study of them may
result in an added appreciation of what is in my view by no means the
least interesting feature of a building having many claims on the
antiquary's attention.
The principal remains of medieval glass are to be found in
the three fifteenth century windows, each having a segmental head, two
main lights with cinquefoil heads, and four trefoil-headed tracery
lights, which light the north aisle of the nave.
In the first window from the east, in the tracery lights
are:-
(1) An angel carrying a censor.
(2) St. Catherine, crowned, with wheel.
(3) A nimbed figure, badly broken and patched with glass
from some other source, holding a spear and wearing a helmet. |
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(4) Another (probably) seated figure, also broken and patched;
the lower part of his robe and one hand raised in blessing can be
distinguished.
In the lower lights of this window: on L. borders at
sides only, made up of pieces of beautiful fifteenth century canopy work
in white and yellow stain. On R. in head, an admirable fifteenth
century canopy in situ, in white and yellow stain with blue
background. In the centre of the canopy, a human face.
In the second window (tracery lights).
(1) St. Leonard, tonsured and dressed as an abbot, holding
a crozier in his L. hand and in his R. a chain. Of the
name of the saint inscribed below the figure only a few letters can be
made out.
(2) St. Clement, wearing the pall and papal crown.
Inscription: S. CLEMAS.
(3) St. Gregory, similarly dressed, the inscription almost
illegible.
(4) Fragments, including an angel's wings in situ
and small pieces of good blue from some other source. One grisaille |