Sites and Monument Record: Kerse Church (Abbotsgrange) (SMR 884) - stained glass

Description
Chancel: Contains four small trefoil windows representing the evangelists. From north to south the windows depict John, Luke, Mark and Mathew. 1951: These windows were a bequest by Mrs Jane Paton in 1951.
1. The Eagle of John with the lettering “JOHN” appearing in the window. The colours are mainly dark blue, red and purple with the eagle appearing in yellow.
2. The next window depicts the bull with the main colours being blue, red and the Bull appears brown. 3. The third window is the Lion of Mark with the lettering “MARK” appearing in the bottom right of the window. The main colours are red, light blue and the lion pale yellow.
4. The most southerly window depicts a winged figure kneeling down and holding a book bound with the cross. Here the main colour is blue. “MATHEW” is written on a ribbon.


East Gable: A large 4-light window with an integral rose window in the tracery. Each light has a prominent central figure. These are, from left to right – Moses, Christ, Christ and St Columba. They have beaded borders.
1. Moses is shown within a columned arch in full length, finely dressed in a red and light blue cloak with purple trim. His halo is yellow and two shafts of light emanate from it. He carries a white stone tablet bearing an inscription – the Table of Law. Above him a vignette shows a dejected man and woman, naked except for fig leaves, being ushered forward by a red winged angel carrying a vertical flame in his left hand. The panel below Moses shows four bearded men each holding a dangling ribbon. Behind their heads are the names “ISAIAH/ MICAH/ EZEKIEL/ HOSEA”. The colours are vibrant, with purples and blues prominent. Below the men are the words “I AM COME THAT” – the remainder of the phrase being carried over to the second light.
2. The second light has a full length figure of Christ in a flowing white robe with blue belt and tunic. He has the conventional halo containing a Maltese cross. A lamb nestles in the crook of his left arm and he holds a yellow and white shepherd’s crook in his right hand. The background is dark blue towards the top for the sky, purple at the figures knees for distant hills and green at the bottom for the grass. A small red shield placed here contains the letters “IHS”. Below, at the feet, lettering spells out “I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD”. On the right of the window, next to the shepherd and against the green background is a red shield which has the lettering “IHS”. Above the head of Jesus is a large white bird with a red crest feeding its three young in a nest with three red tears. The basal panel depicts the nativity scene with Mary cradling the baby Jesus in her arms. Joseph stand behind her holding a lantern and behind him is the stable containing a cow and a donkey. In front of Mary are three shepherds, two of which carry crooks whilst the third has a sheep over his shoulders. The shepherd in front kneels with his arms outstretched. All of this takes place under a star laden sky. Beneath the scene are the words the main text continues “THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE”.
3. The third light shows the risen Christ in full length wearing a yellow cloak over a white robe. His right hand is raised in blessing with two fingers extended. His right hand holds a blue staff punctuated by red bosses and topped with the flag of St George. Now his bare hands and feet are pierced by the stigmata and the background is more celestial. Besides his feet are the words “I AM THE RESURECTIONS AND THE LIFE”. Above his head is the Lamb of God, also with the same flag, on green grass with the night sky behind. The bottom panel shows the 12 disciples praying, with those in the front row kneeling to either side of a blue robed figure – presumably Mary. A white bird with its wings outstretched plummets into the midst of this group and fragments of the eternal flame have burst out everywhere. The words at the bottom of this light are “AND THAT THEY MIGHT”.
4. The fourth light depicts a full length St. Columba. He has is bald headed with a yellow halo and wear blue robes with a purple cloak. His sleeves are trimmed with a yellow pattern. St. Columba holds a pink staff in his left hand and a book with a cross on it in his right hand. Behind him there is a green island surrounded by blue water. On the island is a Celtic Cross on the left, and a church on the right (Lindesfarne). At the saint’s feet lettering spells “COL UMBA”. Above his head a vignette shows a man digging the earth with a spade whilst a woman in a head scarf holds a rake and a sowing sheet. Possibly a child sits to the bottom left and in the background is a building that may represent a church. Almost in the border above this vignette are the Latin words “NEC TAMEN/ CONSUMEBATUR” for the Free Church of Scotland. The basal panel contains seven figures gathered around one central figure, Jesus. Jesus holds a golden chalice and is in white with light emanating from him. The other figures are dressed in the costumes of the various continents - Indian, African, Arabic., and so on, to represent the many nations of the earth. The lettering states “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME”. Finally, the main inscription is completed “HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY”.
5. The Rose window shows three winged figures each with a red halo. Each of the figures appears to have an instrument. The top left is holding ?, the top right is holding a trumpet and the bottom a harp. Their wings are white, blue, yellow and purple and each of them has a read sash. The background is blue. The spandrels are filled with white stars piercing a light and dark blue sky. A colourful cornet is placed in the central space.