Lift Up Your Hearts

Thge iconography of the stained glass in the apse of Chapel was lost on me until recently. The subjects of the windows by Herbert Hendrie are clear enough: Noah holds his ark, Moses strikes the rock at Meribah with his staff, S John holds the text of his Gospel and S Christopher wades across the stream. I had never worked out what links them. The clue is the text round the apse: Esto fidelis usque ad mortuam et dabo tibi coronam vitae, Apocalypse (Revelation) 2:10, Be faithful unto death and I will give a crown of life.

In the central light Christ holds the crown of life which He offers to the faithful. The figures in the other lights represent Faith (Noah), Hope (Moses), Love (S. John) and Service (S Christopher).

Fath, hope, love and service. A programme of virtues to cultivate through life.