Stained Glass Window
The stained glass west window in St Mary's church was donated by Mrs Mostyn1 in memory of her husband, Charles, who died in 1935. Mrs Lilian Mostyn (1865-1962) also gave many generous donations of money to the church. She lived in Pennard House, East Pennard and also had the village hall at West Pennard built in 1937. In the later years, Mrs Mostyn moved to Glastonbury and lived in "Tor Down" in Ashwell Lane. She was a familiar figure around Glastonbury and West Pennard. Her funeral in St Mary's RC church, Glastonbury, in 1962, was conducted by her brother-in-law, Fr Mostyn. Her obituary in the local newspaper, stated that "Glastonbury is the poorer for her passing". She is buried in West Pennard cemetery.
It is not known when the stained glass window was installed in the church, early photographs of the new church show a plain glass window. The windows may have been designed and built by Hardman of Birmingham.
Here is a brief description of the window. In the centre of the window is the Crucifixion with Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus. On the left is Our Lady, Mary and on the right is St John, a disciple of Jesus.
Below Our Lady is St Dunstan2 and the coat of arms of the Clifton Diocese. Below St John is Richard Whiting3 and the coat of arms of the Mostyn family.
The scene depicted in the centre section of the window is the signing of the First Privilege (grant) in 704 by Ine, King of Wessex (688-726), in the presence of St Aldhelm (639-709), Abbot of Malmesbury and first Bishop of Sherborne. It shows the Wattle church, which stood opposite where St. Mary's stands now and where the Abbey was built. When the Saxons reached Glastonbury in AD 658 the "old church" was already standing and dedicated to Our Lady.
Also, outside of St Mary's church on the front wall are the stone statues of Madonna and child, St Dunstan and Richard Whiting.
1 The Mostyn family have many connections to Wales. Charles Mostyn JP (1865 - 1935) was the great-great grandson of Sir Edward Mostyn of Talacre, the 5th baronet (1725-1775).
2 St Dunstan was born in 910 in the nearby village of Baltonsborough. He was Abbot of Glastonbury and died in 988.
3 Richard Whiting was the last Abbot of Glastonbury. He died 1539 being hanged, drawn and quartered on top of Glastonbury Tor.