Great Malvern Priory

1440

William giving a charter to  Aldwin.

 

For the site-based presentation and architectural context, see Great Malvern Priory.

A substantial body of medieval stained glass survives at Great Malvern Priory, although its condition and completeness vary considerably from window to window. Several major fifteenth-century windows remain largely intact, most notably the Magnificat Window, the Founder’s Window, and the glazing of the Lady Chapel. Elsewhere, survival is more fragmentary: the great east window, though once a dominant feature of the church, now survives largely in dispersed panels and fragments rather than as a complete scheme.

The fifteenth century stained glass panel, above, depicts William the Conqueror, in 1085, giving a charter to the monk Aldwin. It can be found in the north wall clerestory window of the chancel in Great Malvern Priory.

As with other images of the period the status of people is shown indicated by their relative size. Here the small figure of Aldwin, the monk that founded the Priory at Great Malvern with the support of Bishop Wulstan of Worcester, is given a charter by William I as the land belonged to Westminster Abbey.