Well, sort of. It is certainly the oldest stained glass that is known to still form part of a window – but we’ve cheated a bit, because this rather random mosaic was thrown together by craftsmen thirty-odd years ago using pieces of ancient glass turned up in a dig in the 1970s.
Professor Rosemary Cramp had been poking around archaeological sites in both Jarrow and nearby Monkwearmouth for more than a decade before she fell upon the above specimens in a particularly significant find at the former site during 1973-74. A decision was soon made to put them on display in the surviving Anglo-Saxon chancel at St.Pauls, the 7-inch diameter window ever since being claimed as the world’s oldest of its type.
The thing is, similar fragments found at Monkwearmouth are probably older, based on the theory that the Wearside monastry pre-dated that at Jarrow by about a decade (670s as opposed to 680s). Though it is not possible to accurately date glass, the Venerable Bede’s writings confirm that such glass was being fitted in the North-East monastries from around 675 – which means that Monkwearmouth must have had it first, followed by Jarrow when it was itself constructed a little later.
So, there you have it: yet more Tyne-Wear rivalry, this time with the Wearsiders coming out, we think, on top. But until they get their bits and pieces into a functioning piece of kit, the Tyne will still have the oldest stained glass window in the world. Well, as I say, sort of.
P.S. Fragments of glass from the Monkwearmouth site can be found on display at several locations throughout Sunderland, namely, St.Peter’s Church, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and (from April 2011) The National Glass Centre. Bede’s World Museum, Jarrow, contains fragments from its own site, in addition to that on display in situ in the old church itself.
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Wow, stained glass from the first century! It's kind of a marvel considering that the color was retained through the years. I wonder what the original window looked like.
ReplyDeleteVisited Jarrow earlier this year and what a magnificent church.
ReplyDeleteThe staff looking after the church were really charming, welcoming me almost like a long lost friend.
Incredible architecture, especially the small 7C stained glass window that is probably some of this churches original glass.
Outside was equally impressive early 7C remains of the the priory that Bede lived in during his ministry.
Most welcoming friendly staff and one of the best gift shops I've seen in any parish church, with a quite magnificent library of historical books available for purchase.
Jarrow is such an important church architecturally, but their gift shop even rivalled one or two note able cathedrals I've visited.
To put it simply
BEDE WOULD BE DEAD CHUFFED.
That was a really interesting read. I always ,like a lot of people Thought the window at St Paul's was original and not put together in the 1970's, and it's a combination of glass found in Jarrow ,and Monkwearmouth, and that Monkwearmouth is older than Jarrow abbey. I always wondered why the glass was so abstract, and not some sort of religious illustration. May be all this glass was broken during Viking raids, and the later raids by that lovely man King Henry the 8th god love'im. Anyhow, I think Wearside should be given more mention in this sort of thing instead of always taking a back seat when it comes to history, and most other things for that matter. I've watched history programs on Tv that Mention Jarrow then fly straight pass Monkwearmouth without a bye or leave. Then resume the program in Durham. It's not acceptable.
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