Late Pre-Raphaelite Stained Glass Window in St. John Maddermarket

When we arrived at St. John Maddermarket, the man inside was very eager to help us out in identifying the artifacts. He pointed out all the medieval stained glass and was particularly interested in showing us a colorful carved monument to Christopher Layer (who dies in 1600) and his wife Barbara (1604). He had done considerable research on the monument and was scheduled to do a lecture on it in the near future. It featured all sorts of religious symbolism, including personifications of Pax, (peace), Vanitas (vanity), Gloria (glory) and Labor—again, not medieval, but nonetheless interesting. He also pointed out this stained glass window done in the late Pre-Raphaelite style in 1913, which was designed by John Powell & Sons, possibly after the style of Burne Jones. Note some of the symbolism in this scene of the Annunciation, like the three beams—God, the Son and Holy Ghost—shining down on Mary. On the font in front of her is depicted on the right Eve eating the apple and on the left Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. The idea is that Mary’s obedience wipes away the sins of Eve. Madder, by the way, is a red dye.