Cradley Church, An Historical Tour

The North Window - Dedication and depiction

The inscription at the bottom of this window reads: “To the Glory of God and in dear memory of Thomas Ayscough, priest, born September 11th 1830, died April 18th 1920. For 25 years Rector of this Parish. And of his wife Ethel Anna, born June 1st 1839, died August 24th 1901 and of their eldest son Francis Ayscough born September 8th 1859, died December 6th 1933 by whose wife Florence this window is dedicated.”

The window shows St. Francis tenderly holding a goldfinch as if talking to it; other birds fly up and across towards his hands, other goldfinches sit on his arm, and recognisable around his feet are a magpie, jay, song thrush, chaffinches, great tit, greater-spotted woodpecker, a birds’ nest, fledglings and rabbits set among beautiful flowers and rich foliage. Above him is a flight of feathered angels painted in a delicate tonal range: it is as if the birds are earthly angels, or the angels heavenly birds.

Goldfinches are shown in several important Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and Child, symbolising the human soul in the caring, loving hands of God.

The North Window - Dedication and depiction

The North Window - Dedication and depiction map