Tipton church windows

In the new year Rev Mark Ward posted on his facebook page a photograph of one of the windows in Tipton Church. It was the window that shows 'Jesus The light of the World', a beautiful scene originally painted by William Holman Hunt, (pre raphelite painter) in 1854. The painting was inspired by Jesus' words in the book of Revelation. This inspired me to call into the church whilst out walking to have a closer look at the stained glass windows.  I noticed that each window is a memorial, with various names displayed on each one. 'The Light of the World' is dedicated to G J King a gentleman and shareholder who owned property in London and lived in Beach House, Sidmouth. This beautifully crafted window was made in 1889 by Ward and Hughes of Soho, London. There is a signature confirming this in one of the small coloured panes. Its amazing that this precious window would have been transported all the way from London, most probably on the train.
The next pair of windows 'Suffer little children come unto me' and 'Feed my sheep' is a memorial to a Tipton vicar, Rev Augustus Archer Hunt who came to St Johns in the early life of the church, 1849 , until his death in 1889. It is dedicated to him by his parishioners and friends, he was reported to have been a very popular vicar, perhaps this scene was chosen particularly to show how he loved and cared for his congregation. These windows look as if they could also be by Ward and Hughes, the work and colouring is very similar, although I  can find no signature
The altar window, 'The Crucifixion of Christ on the Cross' was installed in 1903,  in memory of Rev Hunt, his wife Sarah Emily and his father Major Richard Burgess Hunt (as mentioned in previous Tipton Times 'Sundial' article)

The two sets of  windows on the other side of the church are older .The first set show 'The Resurrected Christ and St John the Evangalist' on his right hand side, these windows are made by Wailes of Newcastle. They are a memorial to   Helen Rose, who died in 1865, from her husband John Benson Rose.    Helen was the sister of Sarah Emily Hunt and although born in Devon she  lived with her barrister husband in London.
The final set of stained windows St Peter and St James the Great, are a memorial to George Frederick Powell. George was a bachelor, who lived in Budleigh, with property in London. He is registered as a 'fundholder', with shares in the railways, including some in India. In his will he left a substantial amount to Tipton church, the school and an allowance for the poor of the village.

It seems that all the windows are dedicated to great friends of the Rev Augustus Hunt, benefactors to 'his' church. His influence on our church has created much of the beauty we see today. These benefactors that all seemed to have been very influential in their day, have left a lasting legacy of beauty for future generations to enjoy, lighting up the church with rainbows of colour.
Next time you are in the church take a moment to enjoy the love and memory of those people left to us over 120 years ago

Acknowledgements to Rev Mark Ward, Ancestry, The British Newspaper Archives

Sundial

                                      The secrets of the Sundial.
In the grounds of Angela Court stands a sundial.
Majestically it has stood on the front lawn of the house from the days when it was a vicarage,  standing firm as the estate became a private house, then a children's convalescent hospital and  up to the present day.
Over this time the reason why it was originally sited there has long been forgotten but having spoken to a few people whom were curious to find out, I started digging around for any information about its past..
Mr M Jenkins ( our local sundial guru) with his expert knowledge of sundials informed me that the brass sundial face was made pre 1854 by Dollund of London and that it is quite unique as it sits on a square stone plinth. 
On each side of the stone are latin inscriptions. On the North it reads 'sole', East - 'necasti', South - 'quare' and West - 'splendidius'.. Many people have tried to translate the latin. -
         "  Why did you kill more splendidly than does the sun"        John Shilke
         " Why did you kill the sunshine? Why did you kill the brightness of the sun?
             Why did you extinguish the glory of the sun?"     Rev Clinton Crawshaw
In context another translation could be  "thus the brightness of the sun is extinguished" meaning a grief so profound, the sun seems to shine less brightly.
My thoughts were that this sundial was a memorial to someone, (maybe your knowledge of latin can tell me different?)
The vicarage was first occupied by the Rev Augustus Archer Hunt MA and his wife Sarah Emily. He lived there from 1844 until 1889, whilst serving as Vicar of Tipton St John church. His father was Major Richard Burges Hunt  R. Art. and A.D.C. who was highly respected in the British Army and a magistrate of Devon . He served at Hanover in 1805, Copenhagen 1807 and The Battle of Ciudad Rodrigo, ( his medal from this battle sold online, in 2002 for £1500). The altar window in Tipton St John church is dedicated to him and also Augustus and Sarah were added at later dates.
The Major died in Devon in 1849. As the sundial had to have been made at this time I believe it to have been made as a memorial for Major Burgess Hunt from his wife (who lived at the vicarage after his death) and his son the Rev Augustus Hunt.
The sundial has been standing, silent and majestic for over 150 years. You could almost say that it is one of Tipton's oldest monuments. I am so glad that we were able to tell it's story again - that of a Tipton vicars bereavement and love of his father.
                                Long may it continue to tell the 'Tipton time'!

Acknowledgement to Martin Jenkins, Ann Knight, Rev Clinton Crawshaw, Ancestry, British Newspaper Archives and Angela Courtv