Bespoke stained–glass windows for the School Chapel

Bespoke stainedglass windows for the School Chapel A lasting gift from our 2019 leavers

The tradition of leavers giving a gift to the School was continued in style by the Class of 2019. The parents of last year’s UVI contributed towards the cost of two beautiful bespoke stained-glass windows for the school’s Chapel to mark their daughters’ time at Tudor and to honour Dr John Jackson on his retirement.

Dr Jackson describes how he felt when he learned of the honour: “My experience attending Mark Reading on Leavers’ Day turned out to be very emotional, and still is when I think back on it. This was not only because of all that was said, but also because of the surprise of learning about the gift of stained-glass windows for the Chapel. I had, from time to time, dropped hints that it would be a good thing to have stained-glass in the Chapel, but never expected the UVI leavers’ gift to the School to be just that.

The windows are perfect, not only because they were designed by Tudor girls, but also because they represent Tudor’s unswerving commitment to giving, and its foundation in the Christian faith. The image of hands giving and receiving perfectly reflects the School’s motto, Habeo ut Dem, which is never taken for granted at Tudor, nor relegated to the past as if it were merely some historical relic. Giving is taught, it is lived, and the girls are better for it. The water speaks of God’s work of cleansing and renewal, from the flood, to God miraculously providing water for the Israelites in the desert, to Jesus

submitting himself to Baptism and on to our own baptism into the faith. The windows are a truly beautiful addition to the Chapel.”

The windows were designed by Molly and Cassia, both in this year’s UVI. Molly has been working on fragmented images as part of her Fine Art coursework topic and Cassia has been studying swimmers in water. They amalgamated their ideas and designed a joint image of water running through hands, a single hand in the act of giving and cupped hands receiving the gifts. Molly turned Cassia’s study of water into a more fragmented image to suit the stained-glass technique. The girls’ design was brought to life by a local stainedglass craftsman.

The Bishop of Dorchester, who has officiated at Tudor confirmation services for many years, will bless the windows before he retires at the end of the year. The blessing had been planned for the summer term and we look forward to welcoming the Bishop once circumstances allow. R