The Millennium Window - St Margaret’s Church Northam I have always loved the way a stained-glass window can light up a church, even on the dullest day. Around the time of the Millennium, it was announced that as all the church windows were being repaired, the old lead being replaced, it would be a splendid opportunity to create a Millennium window. The window at the East end of the North Aisle was chosen, rising behind the organ pipes with lovely tracery at the top. Suggestions were asked for. Being an artist with a love for churches I thought I would submit an idea. The organ pipes are strong and decorative, the design must follow their shape, so a sweep of colour seemed a good idea for the bottom of the design. The window faced East, I thought of the dawn of the new Millennium. The idea, the colours spread across the window from that beginning. The light comes from the burning, rising sun, the blue at the top represents the final disappearing of the old year, with one last planet still shining in the tracery. The new century has arrived, rising over the curving hills and fields of Devon. In front the Christian symbol of the Cross stands strongly red against the backdrop of blues and greens, and the flaming colours of the sun. The design was approved, the practical work began. Reg Lloyd was very helpful, he explained to me how, working with glass, the colours would bleed into each other but this effect was something that could be used. It was a bit like mixing paints. Robert Patterson, who made the window, helped me too, explaining how to draw out the design to scale, on lining paper, to enable him to cut the glass pieces with precision. I was so ignorant in the early stages of the construction process, but as I learnt how it was achieved it was exciting to see my A4 sketch grow into four 16 foot high windows created with such fine craftsmanship. My admiration for the early craftsmen, the artists and glaziers, who created beautiful windows for Churches has grown, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to be part of that great tradition. And have also been delighted by people who have said how the window lights up a comer of the Church that had been dull and dark before. The natural beauty around us and daily rising of the sun gave the inspiration for the window. During the making I received help in many forms, and encouragement to find confidence, especially when I needed a steady hand. I felt I was not alone in creating this window. The window is dedicated to the people in New York who lost their lives in the Destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, about the time of the Dedication and Blessing. - Gillian Heal Ferguson
Lunchtime Recital with Angela King (soprano) and Michael James (piano) performing works by Mozart, Haydn, Luzzi, Vivaldi, Adams, Bizet and Malotte Forty-five minutes of beautiful sacred music14th October 2022
St Margaret’s Church Northam to reopen after major roof repairsAlec McNeill and the Reverend Derek Arnold at St Margaret's Church in Northam during the restoration work.St Margaret’s Church in Northam will be coming out of its own lockdown next month as services resume under a new roof and refurbished bells.The church has been undergoing major roof repairs and it has been shrouded in scaffolding and tarpaulins since March.Contractor Jamie Brown Roofing and Leadworking Ltd has been hard at work on the roof replacing the traditional slate and lead.Plus steeplejacks have been busy scaling the 106 foot tower to repaint the clock and weather vane with gold leaf.St Margaret’s will celebrate its reopening with a Harvest Festival.Communion Service on Sunday, October 4 at 9.30am, with the bells pealing out again beforehand.Alec McNeill of the church building committee said a survey in 2012 had shown the roof of the Grade I listed building was in serious need of repair, to the tune of almost £400,000.A grant offer was obtained from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the balance of some £100,000 was raised by grants from other supporters, and fundraising which included a very successful ‘sponsor a slate’ scheme.Mr McNeill said: “Even non churchgoers agree that St Margaret’s is the centrepiece of Northam.“The contractor, Jamie Brown, could eventually start work in April but with a much reduced and ‘socially distanced’ workforce.“It was thought work might continue until well into 2021, but the contractors have exceeded all expectations and apart from some minor items, have completed the contract.“It will be some weeks before the external scaffolding and tin roof come down, but scaffolding inside has been removed, and a thorough clean is in progress.”The sponsor firms have been placed in a memory box for future generations to find and their dedications placed in a public memorial book in the church. St Margaret's Church in Northam is aiming to be open for its first service in October 2020 following restoration work. It had been hoped to start work last year but it was impossible to acquire the necessary Cornish slate and it was a year before permission could be gained for an alternative.Reverend Derek Arnold from the Hartland Deanery added: “The unique thing about the Church of England is that we have all these buildings, and we live with the past while trying to look to the future.“The buildings are really important for the areas in which they’re rooted. They have to be ship-shape because we’re looking after history and trying to build for the next generation and have a building available for those who come in 100 years or 200 years.”
