Left: Whole window. Right: Closer view of the right-hand panel.
Baptismal Scenes, Church of St Margaret, Bodelwyddan, Clwyd, N. Wales, by Ward and Hughes. 1881. Near the font in the west wall of the north aisle, this three-light window shows three scenes of baptism from the Bible, identified by the chapters given under each light. In the middle is the familiar one of Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist, with the Holy Ghost above (Matthew 10). Less familiar are the two scenes that flank it, showing St Philip baptising the devout centurion Cornelius (Acts 10), and the influential Ethiopian Eunuch being baptised at St Peter's command (Acts 8).
Above these scenes are two angels standing on fluffy clouds, one ready with a heavenly crown, the other plucking a musical instrument that looks like a viola, seen to be accompanying these spiritual steps with heavenly music. The dedication that runs continuously along the foot of the windows reads, "To the glory of God and in memory of Henrietta Charlotte Lady Williams by her children."
The scenes are all rich in onlookers and setting, with the baptisms on the middle and right taking place in pleasant natural waters, and that of the eunuch having a pleasant background of sky and trees. Philip was then travelling, under divine guidance, from Jerusalem to Gaza. These are encouraging and instructional scenes for any candidate for baptism.
Photographs by Colin Price. Text and formatting by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images 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 the Victorian Web in a print one. Click on the images to enlarge them.
Related Material
Bibliography
Crampin, Charlene and Martin. "The Baptism of Christ, with the Baptisms of Cornelius and the Ethiopian Eunuch." Stained Glass in Wales / Gwydr Lliw yng Nghymru. Web. 25 June 2021.
Created 25 July 2021