St Mary the Virgin, Layer Marney. South chancel wall.
The south chancel window is an unusual take on the Tree of Jesse; this is a genealogical depiction of the ancestors of Christ, shown in a tree which rises from Jesse of Bethlehem, the father of King David and is often seen in medieval stained glass and sculpture.

The inscription at the bottom reads "To the Glory of God and in Memory of three beloved children of the Revd Samuel Farman Rector of this parish and Mary his wife. This window is erected Aug. 1870. Anna died June 20 1868 aged eighteen. George died Apr 29 1863 aged eleven. John Arthur died Apr 9 1849 aged six.

The oldest daughter of Samuel and Mary Farman was Mary Farman born 1839, who married Revd. T.R. Musselwhite of West Mersea.

Chris Parkinson writes:
The south chancel window at St Mary the Virgin Layer Marney is currently glazed with stained glass designed by William de Morgan. [1] The commemorative panel at the foot of the window states that the window was erected in 1870. Additionally, there are a further five panels in the heads of the main lights of the chancel east widow also designed by de Morgan. [2] Stained glass designed by William de Morgan is rare, Hamilton states that there are only 5 churches with examples of his stained glass. [3] Bettley also comments on the rarity of de Morgan stained glass and suggests that the glass presently in the south and east chancel windows are the remains of a larger glazing scheme in the church.

A photograph dating from June 1922 shows some of the stained glass then present chancel east window. [4] It clearly shows three of the panels presently glazed into the heads of the lights together with one panel of script arranged diagonally across the panel, similar to the those now in the south chancel. These panels appear to be arranged in a vertical pattern and may be part of the larger scheme referred to earlier by Bettley. Most of the chancel east window in the photograph is obscured by a Marney monument so it is impossible to see the extent of the chancel east window glazing.

[1] Buildings of England Essex, Bettley & Pevsner, 2007 p 530
[2] ibid p 530
[3] Rare Spirit A life of William de Morgan 1839-1917, 1997, p 26
[4] historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/CC002146

Date: 9 January 2011