Fr Dom Charles Norris, OSB
Father Dom Charles Norris OSB, M.B.E., A.M.G.P. (1909-2004), was the United Kingdom’s most prolific maker of dalle-de-verre (slab glass) windows, exclusively working in this medium from 1959 to 2003.[i] During his lifetime Norris helped to create windows for over 250 localities.[ii] The glass was Norris' call to evangelisation, to put faith into action in daily life. We see this at Our Lady's Church in Lillington. The key features that distinguish Our Lady’s from Norris’ other commissions are the high levels of spiritual symbolism and Norris’ style. It is the imprecise abstract shapes, expressing hidden symbolism (beautifully based upon Biblical verses) that truly makes the Church unique. When seen in situ, the light and airy space has a peaceful atmosphere, alongside the special spiritual ambience.
Fr Charles with his dalle-de-verre in 1990. Image courtesy of Buckfast Abbey Archives.
Norris headed a team of fellow monks in designing and executing the glass. Their work and subject matter was informed by the international organisation of the Order of Saint Benedict. Benedictines live their life as a witness to Saint Benedict’s life and character, following the Rule of Saint Benedict.[iii] The Rule consists of a Prologue and seventy-three chapters, ranging from a few lines to several pages.[iv] They provide instruction on daily and monastic lifestyle, following the Benedictine motto ‘pray and work’. The rule is used by the abbot to help determine lifestyle particulars, depending on the specific skillsets of the monks within the community.
Fr Charles Norris is on the far right with the other WWII Chaplains and Abbot Bruno, 1939. Image courtesy of Buckfast Abbey Archives.
Clearly, one of Norris’ God-given gifts was his beautiful dalle-de-verre works. Norris’s faith didn’t just inform the work, it endorsed it. His knowledge of the dalle technique was put into practise, most likely supporting the following Benedictine Rules - chapter fifty-seven verse one teaches that “if there are artisans in the monastery, they are to practise their craft with all humility, but only with the abbot’s permission.[v] Additionally, the Benedictine Prologue verse thirty-five states that “the Lord waits for us daily to translate into action, as we should, his holy teachings”,[vi] evident in the glass at Our Lady’s based upon biblical verses and themes.
[i] The Association for the History of Glass Limited, “Glass News,” History of Glass November (2004) 13: para. 75, accessed Mar 3, 2020, http://www.historyofglass.org.uk/pdfs/glass_news/glassnews16.pdf.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Holy Trinity Monastery, “St Benedict and his Rule,” Benedictine Nuns of Holy Trinity Monastery (2007-2017) para. 2, accessed Feb 23, 2020, http://www.benedictinenuns.org.uk/Community/Community/Rule.html.
[iv] OSB, “The Rule,” para. 3, accessed Feb 23, 2020, https://www.osb.org/our-roots/the-rule/.
[v] Philip Lawrence, OSB, “Chapter 57: The Artisans of the Monastery,” Monastery of Christ in the Desert (2020) para. 1, accessed Feb 24, 2020, https://christdesert.org/prayer/rule-of-st-benedict/chapter-57-the-artisans-of-the-monastery/.
[vi] Philip Lawrence, OSB, “Prologue Verse 35-44,” Monastery of Christ in the Desert (2020) para. 1, accessed Feb 24, 2020, https://christdesert.org/prayer/rule-of-st-benedict/prologue-verse-35-44/.