Stained Glass Windows
Introduction
The miracles of Aneitus (St. Neot) and stories from the bible are brought to life in brilliant light through coloured glass in 17 windows, especially on a sunny day!
Take a look through the highlights on this page, and then follow the Window Tour Part 1 & 2.
Window Tour
A tour of the 17 stained glass windows may be followed in the church, and also online in 2 parts:
Colourful Stories
The windows are full of stories from the bible and the miracles of saints, but they also provide clues about the lives of the parishioners who donated to create the windows we see today.
The windows attract great interest and have been studied for hours over the years. Below are few highlights!
How Old?
How old are the windows? Robert Tubbe, our Vicar from 1508 to 1544, was possibly the man behind the present designs. However, some of the glass in the window above the altar dates from 1460s.
1826-28
Restoration
The windows were greatly restored by John Hedgeland in 1826-28. During this restoration Hedgeland changed parts of windows, and shifted them around, so that it is now impossible to know what they were originally like. Nevertheless in twelve of the windows, half of the glass is original. (The Grylls family have long been patrons of St Neot Church, and Rev R.H.Grylls, a descendant of the Callaway and Tubbe families, commissioned John Hedgeland to undertake the restoration work).
Finest
Least Restored
The finest and least restored window, the Creation Window, is full of delightful things representing the Creation (including the newly created bird flying off the tip of His finger), the Fall, Cain and Abel and lastly Noah politely doffing his cap to God as he receives his instructions.
FAMILY DONATIONS
Wealthy Families
Some of the wealthy parishioners funded the windows, and those in the south aisle were donated by the Borlase, Martyn, Motton, Callaway and Tubbe families.
FEMALE DONORS
Wives & Women
The Young Women's Window dating from 1529 is named after its donors who are pictured kneeling at the base of the window, immortalised in glass for nearly 500 years. The Wives Window was paid for by the wives of the western side of the parish in 1528.
St. Neot Window
Young Men
The last window in the north aisle was given by the young men of the parish and depicts 12 scenes from the life of St. Neot.
English Saint in Cornwall!
St George
A further 12 scenes in the west window of the north aisle describes the life of St. George and is of unique interest as some of the legendary incidents are not found elsewhere.
LAST SUPPER
1460s
The east window above the high altar dates mostly from the 1820’s. The 8 small top lights are some of the oldest stained glass in the church, these top lights date from the 1460’s.
Journey around the windows
We start our journey around the windows in the All Souls Chapel at the east end of the church, to your right as you enter.
We will move around the church in a clockwise direction finishing with the Last Supper window in the chancel.
