Peter and the Keys

William Wailes (1808-1881)

1853 (repared after war damage)

Stained glass

South aisle, third window, St Peter's Church

Bournemouth

The third of four matching south aisle windows installed before the rest of the church was built, and dealing with St Peter, to whom the church was dedicated. This is the episode in which Jesus gives Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, saying, "whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16, 19). Peter's role as the "rock" of the church is here confirmed. Like the adjacent window (Peter Sinking in the Lake), it was given by the congregation in memory of the Reverend Bennett's wife and only daughter, who had died recently. [Click on the image to enlarge it, and mouse over the text below for links.]

Related Material

  • St Peter's Church, Part I: Exterior and Nave
  • St Peter's Church, Part II: Choir and Sanctuary, Keble Chapel and Fittings
  • Wailes's The Miraculous Draught of Fish
  • Wailes's Peter Sinking in the Lake
  • Wailes's Peter's Denial of Christ

    • Photograph by John Salmon and text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee.

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