UK: Help Restore War Memorial Window

Keighley News, UK: Help Restore War Memorial Window
An appeal has been launched to restore a “remarkable” stained glass window that depicts scenes from the First World War and has been described as one of Keighley’s treasures.

The window was presented to All Saints’ Church, Highfield, in 1917 by the members of the church’s bible class. It features a version of the painting The Great Sacrifice by James Clark and is unusual because it was installed before the end of the conflict.

The Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard, from All Saints’ Church, wants to raise £1,500 to clean and protect the window, which has been damaged by a stone and has become dull over time.

“The window is one of the treasures of Keighley,” he said. “It is quite remarkable and we recognise we need to have it properly protected and cleaned.

“It is one of only two in the country where the artist who did the original painting was involved in putting the stained glass together.

“The original painting is very well known. There were many postcards made of it and there will be a number of memorials that have it on.“ The window shows Christ in the middle of the suffering on the Western Front. A smaller scene shows what is believed to be the Battle of Arras, with soldiers tunnelling through the chalk under the battlefield to place mines under the enemy trenches. It is thought the Battle at Gallipoli is also depicted, with images of soldiers fighting near a Turkish village.

The badge of the Duke of Wellington regiment and the crest of the Diocese of Ripon, which the church would have belonged to in 1917, are also present.

Dr Pritchard said the colours of the stained glass would be much brighter once the window had been cleaned and restored. He said clear and strong polycarbide panels would be put up on the outside of the window to protect it from further damage and the mesh screens would be removed. The window will be rededicated once the work is completed.

Donations to the Memorial Window Appeal can be sent to The Vicarage, 21 View Road, Keighley BD20 6JN.