CHARLES EAMER KEMPE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
St Bartholomew’s Church has 6 wonderful Stained Glass Windows by Charles Eamer Kempe (b1837 – d1907) covering the entire life of the Studio from 1869 until 1934 when it closed. The earliest is the East window of the Crucifixion dated 1877. It was the first commission in which Kempe inserted the Kempe family arms of three wheatsheaves on a red shield with gold.

    
Below you will see the Angel Gabriel in the Annunciation Window dated 1878, telling Mary that she will bear a Son.

See the beautiful peacock feathers in his wings. The peacock is the Bird of Immortality and features a great deal in Kempe windows. Come to Much Marcle to see the Treasures and become a follower of Kempe.

Reredos. 

Made for Kempe by Norman and Burt of Haywards Heath in Sussex.

The panels either side of the central one each have 2 brass repoussee plaques representing the 4 Evangelists – St Matthew, angel; St Mark, winged lion; St Luke, winged ox and St John, eagle.

You can join the Kempe Society, whose secretary is Mr Philip Collins, 41 York Avenue, Crosby L23 5RN.  You can read more about Charles Eamer Kempe at the Churchmouse website.

(All photographs by David Mocatta of Much Marcle)

LIST OF CHURCHES IN THE LOCALITY WITH KEMPE WINDOWS
Herefordshire
Hereford Cathedral – The largest window ever made by Kempe Studios
St. Peter, Hereford – 1 window
St Michael & All Angels. Ledbury, Herefordshire 11 windows
St. John Eastnor, Nr. Ledbury 4 windows
St James, Colwall, Nr. Ledbury – 2 windows
Priory, Leominster – 3 windows
St Dinabo, Llandinabo, Nr. Ross on Wye
St. Mary, Ross on Wye 2 windows
St Michael, Byford – 1 window
St Andrew, Castle Frome 1 window
St George, Woolhope 1 window
SS Peter and Paul, Stoke Lacey

Gloucestershire
Gloucester Cathedral – 8 windows
Tewkesbury Abbey- 1 window & 7 x 14c windows restored by Kempe & Co Ltd
St Mary, Dymock 4 windows
St Mary’s, Old Kempley – 1 window
St Mary, Bromsberrow, Nr. Ledbury – 5 windows
St Bartholomew, Redmarley D’Abitot – 1 window