Today Michael Stokes of MDS Stained Glass installed the new stained glass window, designed by David Pilkington, in the Lady Chapel. This exquisite window commemorates James Hetherington (2002-2004) and his great-grandfather Joseph Thornton (1903-1992). The location of the window is particularly appropriate as it is next to the Millennium windows, also designed by David Pilkington, to celebrate all the children living in the parish in 2000.
The window has the two inscriptions “O all ye birds of the air, bless ye the Lord” and “Remember before God Joseph Stanley Thornton 1903-1992 and his great grandson James Giles John Hetherington 2002-2004“.
Mr Thornton of Thorton’s Chocolates spent his last years in Parwich and is particularly remembered for his generosity to the village, including the Thornton Cricket Pavilion, which will be even more important over the next 8 months or so whilst we are without the Memorial Hall.
Rosemary Chambers, who commissioned this beautiful window, must have thought that today would never come, with endless meetings, an initial failure to gain a faculty (a sort of ecclesiastical planning permission) and change in designer. The window has sad associations for Rosemary and the Hetherington family, with the tragic loss of James at such a young age.
How many species of bird can you spot in the window?
PARWICH.ORG 
The windows looks absolutely stunning from these splendid pictures, and they are a wonderful conclusion to the frustratingly extended process of seeking the right artist and gaining the approval of the ecclesiastical authorities. They bring to a fitting conclusion a ten year period over which St Peter’s church has seen the installation of a remarkable number of new stained glass windows of the highest quality. These complement the earlier windows very effectively, while evoking an ambience which will surely, in years to come, powerfully evoke the period during which this rush of creativity was expressed. We are of course all indebted to Rosemary for her generous gift, and to David Pilkington, for whom the windows have brought together acute spiritual insights and a profound appreciation of the natural world.
Could a series of postcards be made of the various new windows?!!
Brilliant idea Christopher. The new window is stunning and looks even better in reality with the evening light glowing through it than it did on paper. As we enter the church we will see it immediately and be struck by its beauty and then remember ‘Grandpa’ and James. Thank you Rosy for persisting through all those difficult frustrasting setbacks. It has really been worthwhile.
I am an amateur photographer and have recently started to produce local postcards of the Derwent Valley area. David Pilkington bought some of my postcards and was kind enough to telephone me to compliment me on them. He told me he designed stained glass and that’s how I found this website – by Googling David Pilkington stained glass.
The format I use for my cards would particularly suit the shape of these windows and I can supply them in small quantities. If anyone is interested in this proposition please get in touch: darrenmayner@w3z.co.uk