War Memorial at St Andrew's UR Church

by Douglas Strachan

Frognal Lane, Hamstead, London.

These windows are currently under threat, see appeal here.

These outstanding War Memorial windows at St Andrew’s church are very characteristic of Strachan’s work and display strong themes and structures expressed both in the horizontal and in the vertical; intellectual purposes that create a unified whole out of subtly and yet powerfully woven facets of Biblical narrative, apocaplyptic themes and human realities of life’s experiences and pains; very fine figure drawing; a keen sense of movement and vitality; stylistic characterisations of his, such as downward looking angels; immense technical ability, in plating, flashed glass, leading, and so on.

His dramatic, strong colour registers are carefully designed to take account of the north aspect and also of the sacrificial themes of the window. The left hand window, in warm reds and oranges, brings a radiant glow to counter the cool northern light. The right hand window in blues and greens draws on the nature of the light from a north facing window to emphasise the stark and chill realities of crucifixion and of war. Yet here, too, Strachan also draws on his beloved and characteristically Scottish deep pinks and purples to contrast with the cooler colours. It needs to be borne in mind that north facing glass never receives full sunlight, and such light as exists will be muted in its nature. It is part of the skill of the artist, and none better than Douglas Strachan, to make the best possible use of the light available. It should be noted also, that part of the interest of the stained glass derives from the fact of the changing values of light according to season, weather and time of day. A large new building outside these windows would wipe out not only much of the light, but also the multitude of variations in light that a day brings.

Images copyright ©2011 Isabel Hariades, St Andrews Church, London