11. THE GREAT EAST WINDOW As we raise our eyes to the great window above the altar, we see a beautiful and eloquent work of Christian art, one of the finest products of the nineteenth century Gothic Revival. The east window is notable for its size and beauty and has a butterfly shape at the centre. The intricate wonder of Edmund Blacket's curvilinear tracery which frames the leaded glass is more than matched by the glowing colours that draw the eye, chiefly pale blue, white and lemon-gold, with "jewels" of green, lilac and ruby-red. This window forms the visual climax of the building. It was made by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne, of London in 1885 after the style of early sixteenth century Flemish glass such as is found in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. The window also forms the climax of the theological scheme of the Sanctuary, presenting pictorially the subject of the symbolic references noticed earlier.

Its seven lights portray six events: (upper left) the angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds; (lower left) the twelve-year-old Jesus converses with the doctors in the Temple; (lower centre) Jesus is baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist; (lower right) Jesus teaches the multitudes; (upper right) the apostles and women watch Jesus ascend into Heaven; and (centre) Jesus hangs on the cross. In the tracery top are many symbols of the passion of Christ. On either side of the window, contributing to the same theme, are two carved medallions. On the left, Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd ("Ecce Homo"), and on the right, Simon of Cyrene takes the cross from the fallen Jesus. Over the great window is a banner wrought in stone with the words that complete the salvation theme: "We have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God" (Hebrews 4:14). At either end of the banner are the Greek letters, Alpha and Omega (A and ?), the First and the Last.