The Flanagan Window at St Chad's R.C. Cathedral, Birmingham
John Hardman & Co
Installed in 1865
South transept
This window, in the south transept, was erected by public subscription to the memory of the Very Rev. Thomas Canon Flanagan, who died somewhat suddenly at Kidderminster, July 21st, 1865. He was the author of the Manual of English History, History of the Church in England, &c. He was for many years a professor at Oscott College, and for a time President of Sedgley Park School. At the time of his death he was one of the priests attached to this cathedral church. [Commentary continues below, with closer views of the window. Click on all images to enlarge them. ]
Photographs by Colin Price, reproduced here by kind permission of the Dean & Chapter.
Related Material
The window represents the life of St. Thomas of Canterbury, Canon Flanagan's patron saint. The upper part of the window, seen here, shows the miracles wrought at his tomb at Canterbury.
Lower tier, left to right:
- A dying woman cured by the application of a vial containing the blood of the Saint.
- St. Thomas appearing to a dying woman, and pointing towards the shrine as a means to obtain her cure.
- A woodcutter having wounded his leg with a hatchet, the wound is healed by the invocation of the Saint.
- A child which had been drowned restored to life by the relics of the Saint.
- Appearance of St. Thomas to a sick man, and his cure by the touch of the Saint’s staff.
- A possessed woman dragged to the shrine of St. Thomas, and there freed from the devil.
Upper tier, left to right:
- A rich traveller saved from robbers by invoking the Saint.
- A demoniac dispossessed before the shrine.
- Shrine of St. Thomas, and pilgrims at devotion.
- Healing of a leprous boy.
- Cripples on the way to the shrine, where they were cured.
In the medallion in the centre of the window is seen the glorification of the Saint in heaven. Around the medallion are a further three angels, with the figure of Canon Flanagan himself in the lower right-hand corner. On either side of the medallion are shown four more vignettes: St. Thomas saying, "Here I am, the Archbishop, but no traitor!" (lower left); the Martyrdom of St. Thomas (upper right); the burial of St. Thomas (upper left); and the King doing penance before the tomb of the Saint (lower right).
The lower part of the window, seen here, shows the life of the Saint on earth.
Lower tier, left to right:
- The mother of St. Thomas, on her arrival from Palestine, inquires in the streets of London for Gilbert à Becket.
- Birth of St. Thomas.
- Monks instructing St. Thomas.
- St. Thomas following field sports.
- St. Thomas, when Lord Chancellor, teaching the young Prince of England.
- St. Thomas created Archbishop of Canterbury.
Upper tier, left to right:
- Flight of St. Thomas into France, after signing the Constitutions of Clarendon.
- St. Thomas at Sens, in the habit of a Cistercian monk, receiving his poor relations, who had been banished by King Henry II.
- The King of France visits St. Thomas in his banishment.
- St. Thomas pleading his cause before the Pope.
- Return of St. Thomas of England, and reconciliation with the King.
- The knights at the banquet swearing to avenge the King on the Archbishop.
Note
The Flanagan window is a fine example of how stained glass was used not only for its aesthetic appeal but also to convey religious knowledge, in this case about the life of a popular saint (St. Thomas of Canterbury), as well as to commemorate and honour someone who had given much to his community (here, Canon Flanagan). On the opposite side of the cathedral, adjacent to Pugin's Lady Chapel, is another beautiful and complex window of this size. More highly symbolic, it is on the theme of the Immaculate Conception, and was designed by John Hardman Powell. It was installed in the cathedral in 1868, just a few years after this one, to pay tribute to John Hardman junior himself, who had died in the previous year. — JB.
Last modified 17 August 2016