|
The main 3 light East window behind the altar was originally glazed in plain glass panes with ironstone surround and cast iron tracery but the glazing was replaced in late 1999, as a Millennium project, by a stained glass window showing scenes from Denton’s history. Once a decision had been made in principle to replace the old windows a committee was formed in February 1998 and fundraising started; as did the search for a suitable designer. Eventually local Denton artist, Sue Brownridge, was commissioned to provide drawings within the committee's brief for consideration and from these a final design was agreed and submitted to the Diocesan Advisory Committee and Council for the Care of Churches for their approval as a faculty for doing such work is required for all such projects in churches. There was then an extended period of negotiation between the parties and eventually agreement was reached, the faculty was issued in August 1999 and the work could proceed. Obviously the timescale was very tight if the window was to be in place by the start of the new Millennium.Stained glass artist Nicholas Bechgaard was appointed to make up the window at his studio in Stroud and on a very cold day in November 1999 the window was installed by the maker assisted by a couple of parishioners (see picture left). Only a few days later, on Sunday 5th December later a service of thanksgiving was led by the Bishop of Peterborough, the late Right Rev. Ian Cundy who blessed and dedicated the new window. The vicar, Rev Michael Ryall led the exhortation.
Half of the £10,500 cost had been raised by the parish - a considerable effort for a relatively small church community.
Church treasurer and appeal director, Michael Clarke, commented - 'We were keen to emphasise that despite the froth and gloss of the Millennium it is still about 2,000 years since the birth ofJesus Christ. It is a great achievement for the church because we had a lot of problems with the planning authorities and there was a time I stressed we really had to get a move on if the window was going to be up in time' The 20ft by 10 ft window reflects life in Denton and shows the patron saint of the church, St Margaret and also village landmarks such as the dovecote, village green and the ever present white doves seen round the church . At the same time the foliage tracery reflects and complements aspects of the mural scheme painted by Henry Bird on the church walls a quarter of a century earlier.The completed window is shown below.
|