'The Margaret Clitherow Window'

2018

Design by Deb Lowe

1400mm wide x 26400mm including frame

The church is a light and airy eighteenth century building of simplicity and elegance. The aim of the design is to harmonize with and enhance this distinctive architecture.

The bottom oval contains a portrait of Margaret Clitherow, dressed in a plain gown and simple white coif. She is framed by evergreen laurels, which symbolize victory and eternal life. Behind are the Shambles of York where she lived and a glimpse of York Minster between the buildings. She holds a rosary to symbolize her devotion to her faith and a sprig of wild roses. The sprig has one open rose representing Margaret herself (it is a white rose, emblem of York) and one rosebud for the child she was carrying at the time of her execution. The top oval contains a view of the fields and meadows around Ribchester.

Stydd Chapel, thought to be the site of Margaret Clitherow’s grave, can be seen in the distance. The fields contain a flock of sheep, which references Ribchester’s historic roots in farming and weaving. It also symbolizes Christ as the good shepherd and Lamb of God.

The landscape is depicted in springtime with sheep and their lambs, new hawthorn leaves starting in the hedgerows and spring flowers in the foreground. This sets the scene around the time of Margaret Clitherow’s martyrdom on Easter Sunday. The scene is framed by ivy, which is traditionally used to symbolize faithfulness, especially in marriage, and eternal life.

In the arch at the top of the window are decorative boughs of palm leaves, native wild roses and daffodils. The palms are a symbol of martyrdom and the white rose is the emblem of York.

The swag of flowers at the base of the window continues the springtime theme with daffodils, violets, primroses, marsh marigolds, wood anemone, bluebells and wild roses.

The green banner at the bottom of the window holds the inscription ‘Jesus have mercy on me’, reported to be Margaret Clitherow’s last words.