Stained glass of St Peter & St Paul East Harling Norfolk

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TThis c1860 window is believed to be the product of a local craftsman. It commemorates Amos & Elizabeth Allen, who both died in 1855. It depicts The Crucifixion and quotes Christ’s New Testament  words to Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me though he were dead yet he shall live”

This remarkably complete 15th century window has changed little since it was donated by Sir Robert Wingfield. Robert was the second husband of Anne Harling. Anne was the daughter of Sir Robert Harling and the last representative of the family. She was a considerable heiress and both in her own right, and in the name of her husbands, was largely responsible for the 15th century refurbishment of the church.

That the window survived at all is amazing. To escape the ravages of Cromwell’s troops, it was removed and hidden in the attic of East Harling Hall, the ancient home of the Lovell family. In 1736, when the manor was sold to Thomas Wright, the glass was returned to its original setting. It was again removed during the Second World War and replaced and releaded in 1947.

It is believed that the window was made over the period c1465 – c1480. Accredited to the Norwich school of glassmakers, as a collection of glass it is second only to the East window of St Peter Mancroft (Norwich). According to David King  many of the designs at the two locations are the same in particular both decorative motifs and painting styles are similar. The major differences at East Harling relate to: the use of canopies, faces being more “linear and robust”, drapery being more angular whilst sceneshere tend to be more two dimensional.

For information on each panel together with an explanation of their content please refer to the downloadable factsheet.

The window contains fragments of glass. The tracery lights hold the heads of two angels, whilst in the main lights the following are depicted:

• An angel with a harp which originally belonged to the same set as the two angels in the tracery lights of the East window. Above the figure is a strip of glasses painted with a pattern of centaurs & cherubs which can be dated back to the 16th century and is probably of  Netherlandish origin
• The two shields belong to the Lovell and Muswell families. Although somewhat indistinct they both include red squirrels, the badge of the Lovell family. The squirrel has also been depicted in the tracery lights of the East window
• A 17th century angel which was probably originally in a clerestory window, together with a crown of the same date

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