St Andrew and St Thomas, by Michael O'Connor

St Andrew and St Thomas

Michael O'Connor (1801-67)

1848

North Chancel

St James' Church, Weybridge, Surrey

This window must have been installed when the new parish church by J. L. Pearson was first built (it opened its doors in 1848). But it has been moved from the former east window, and reset here in the north chancel, presumably when the chancel was enlarged in the 1880s. St Andrew, grey-bearded after a long life's work, carries the transverse cross on which he was crucified, and on which he is said to have continued preaching until the end; brother of Simon Peter, he is the patron saint of Scotland. St Thomas carries the spear which was the instrument of his martyrdom too. Interestingly, he is the patron saint of architects, because of the churches he is said to have built while preaching in India. He would have been, so to speak, watching over Pearson's new work.

It is hard to judge windows that have been reset, but as they are now they do suggest the clear colours and unfussy design that Nikolaus Pevsner praises elsewhere in the early O'Connor (61).

Photograph, text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one. Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text for links.]