Hope and Prudence - Litchborough, Northamptonshire

This three-light stained glass window of 1926, signed by J. Powell & Sons (Whitefriars), presents a symbolic devotional programme centred on Christian virtue rather than named saints.
In the left-hand light, a female allegorical figure personifying Hope ⓘ is shown standing full-length, holding ears of corn, a symbol of spiritual nourishment and the promise of fulfilment. Above her, a golden anchor set within a blue roundel reinforces the traditional emblem of Hope. The inscription below, “Rejoicing in hope”, makes the allegorical meaning explicit.
The central light depicts the Virgin and Child, with Mary standing frontally and presenting the Christ Child. Above her is the inscription “Love is of God”, identifying the central figure with divine love or charity. In the predella below, the Holy Family is shown in a carpenter’s workshop, a domestic scene emphasising humility, labour, and sanctified family life.
In the right-hand light, a second female allegorical figure personifying Patience ⓘ is represented holding an open book, signifying endurance, faith, and constancy in belief. Above her, a gold crown of thorns within a blue roundel symbolises suffering borne with perseverance. The inscription beneath reads “Patience in tribulation”, clarifying the intended virtue.
The tracery lights contain gold IHS and XPC monograms set within red roundels, surrounded by vines and grapes, symbols of Christ, the Eucharist, and spiritual life.
The window is characteristic of early 20th-century Whitefriars work, combining pale patterned quarries, strong leading, restrained colour, and saint-like allegorical figures to convey a moral and devotional message rooted in scripture.