Crucifixion Window - Misterton Leicestershire

Clayton & Bell, Crucifixion Window – East Window, South Aisle, St Leonard’s Church, Misterton (Leicestershire), c. 1878.

This three-light stained-glass window by Clayton & Bell occupies the east end of the south aisle at St Leonard’s Church, Misterton. Dated around 1878, it depicts the Crucifixion with accompanying figures and angels, a composition typical of the firm’s High-Victorian narrative style.

The central light depicts Christ on the Cross, crowned with thorns and beneath the inscription INRI. The sun and crescent moon appear in the sky above—traditional medieval symbols of the heavens mourning the Passion. At the foot of the Cross stand the Virgin Mary and St John the Evangelist, rendered with dignity and sorrow, forming a balanced, devotional grouping.

The left light shows Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and St John. Joseph holds a casket of spices; Nicodemus bears a jar of myrrh and aloes, foreshadowing the entombment. Above them, angels carry the Instruments of the Passion—the hammer, nails, and crown of thorns. The base inscription reads ECCE AGNUS DEI (“Behold the Lamb of God”).

The right hand light depicts the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and another holy woman, all in attitudes of mourning. Above them, angels bear the cross and spear, continuing the heavenly lament. The lower inscription reads QUI TOLLIT PECCATUM MUNDI (“who takes away the sin of the world”).

The window is characteristic Clayton & Bell craftsmanship: strong linear design, rich colour harmony (ruby, sapphire, gold, and emerald), and finely painted faces. The figures combine Gothic grace with restrained realism, showing the firm’s mature 1860s–80s idiom. Architectural canopies and patterned diaper backgrounds frame the scenes with ornate precision.