Saint-Joseph-of-Arimathea Theme Pages

Biblical figure who donated his tomb for Jesus’s burial. Later traditions link him to the Holy Grail and the Christianization of Britain.

In this stained glass window from Salisbury Cathedral, designed by Henry Holiday in 1891 for James Powell & Sons, two figures stand side by side in balanced composition and clear, vivid color.

On the left is Saint John the Evangelist, shown as a young man with a calm, focused expression. He wears white and gold robes and holds a book, representing his Gospel. At his feet is an eagle, the traditional symbol of John, used to represent his clear and elevated understanding of the divine. His halo bears the inscription “S. IOH.”

This stained glass window, designed by Henry Holiday and made by James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars Glass) in 1891, depicts Saint John the Evangelist and Joseph of Arimathea. The two figures together embody the themes of witness and devotion, those who stood near to Christ in His death and affirmed His divine nature in word and deed.