Our November 2025 evening talk welcomed Juliet Heslewood, who presented a history of Fairford Church with particular emphasis on the developent and design of the stained glass windows which are a prime feature of the building.
The evening saw around 50 members who were entertained by some fine and detailed illustrations of the windows. We also had insights into their construction and stylistic influences.
About Fairford Church
The Church of St Mary in Fairford is one of the Cotswolds’ finest wool churches — built in the late 15th century when local families grew wealthy from sheep farming and trade. Their prosperity – Juliet used the term “visible spending” – is reflected in the church’s beautiful stonework and magnificent windows.
Fairford is an outstanding church because of its fascinating complete set of medieval stained glass windows, the only such set in England. The glass is rare, and is of the highest quality.
Juliet gave us a brief outline of church architectural development from Romanesque to late Gothic, with several illustrations of some well-known examples of churches in those styles. Fairford represents the Perpendicular Gothic style, and typical of this style, the church is full of light, with its tall windows supported by elegant buttresses.
Fairford’s Stained-Glass Windows
Fairford’s 28 stained-glass windows are almost unique in England, forming a complete medieval story of the Bible, from Creation to the Last Judgment. Highlights include the Creation Window, showing the making of the world, and the Annunciation, where Gabriel greets Mary.
Juliet also took us through some insights into the construction of such stained glass windows, and explored the influences – North European rather than Renaissance Italy, which informed the style of the designs and imagery.
Survival Stories
The story of their survival is told in several landmark events. A few of the panes were damaged during a storm in November 1703; they were either repaired, some being modified or replaced. During 1889-90 twenty-six windows were repaired and re-leaded.
The windows were taken down for safekeeping during the Second World War and in recent years this remarkable heritage has been carefully restored between 1986 and 2010 under the direction of Keith Barley.
Juliet reminded us that although little is recorded about its founders, the Tudor writer John Leland noted that the wool merchant John Tame began the church, and his son Edmund completed it. As for the designs themselves, there are no written records, and so historians have to piece together hints and guesses – this gave the talk an extra dimension of interest, as Juliet explored these for us.
Today, St Mary’s remains one of Gloucestershire’s most remarkable examples of faith, art, and local pride.
About Juliet Heslewood
Juliet Heslewood is the author of The History of Western Painting: A Young Person’s Guide, as well as a series of themed art books for Frances Lincoln and the recent novel Mr Nicholls.
She has written many other books including one on Van Gogh that led her to be interviewed in a BBC 4 Arts programme on television.
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