 Bestwood Village
St Mark
Glass
The windows are a mix of circular, semi-circular, segmental and square headed
openings with leaded lights and some stained glass to the church with timber
and iron framed windows to the side rooms.
 East
End - Hawthorne Window
Shows Christ with the children
The maker of this window is unknown. Below this window is a plaque with the
following dedication:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND TO COMMEMORATE THE LONG AND
FAITHFUL MINISTRY OF
REVD. ARCHIBALD STEWART HAWTHORNE M.A.
THIS WINDOW HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE
OF THIS PARISH OF WHICH HE WAS RECTOR
FROM 1885 UNTIL HIS RESIGNATION IN 1911 |
 North
Aisle - Millennium Window
The Millennium window in the north aisle of the nave was unveiled at an out-door
service on Sunday 25th June 2000 by Mr Alan Parr, the Head teacher of
Hawthorne Primary School. The window was made by Jonathan Watts of Illuminart,
Patching’s Farm. It shows Bestwood Village with its industrial past,
the main features being the engine house and headstocks, the miners’ houses,
Alexandra Lodge, the school, and the Mill Lakes. There are nine roundels within
the window, five of which were designed by children from the Hawthorne School,
showing the school badge, the war memorial, the graveyard and church. Another
has a pick-axe and coal, a bridge with ducks and trees, and another birds.
The remainder of the roundels depict the Bestwood Male Voice Choir, Bestwood
Black Diamond Band, the Duke of St Alban’s Coat of Arms and a drawing
of cotton flax by the artist, representing the former cotton mills.
 Chancel
- Lancaster window
The chancel window has four lights depicting the four evangelists Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John all carrying books and the means of writing. At the bottom
of the window is the following inscription:
| TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF JOHN LANCASTER WHO DIED 21ST APRIL
1884 |
The maker of the window is unknown.
Details of the figures in the window |
 St
Matthew |
 St
Mark |
 St
Luke |
 St
John |
Mr John Lancaster, of Bilton Grange, Rugby, died aged 69 years. He was MP
for Wigan 1868-1874 and he was the entrepreneur who set up the Bestwood Coal
and Iron Company. Mr Lancaster also had a very interesting connection
with the American Civil War, becoming involved in its last great sea battle
between the Confederate ship Alabama and the Union ship Kearsarge off
Cherbourg France in June 1864. The rebel raider Alabama was in Cherbourg
for repairs, when the USS Kearsarge discovered her. On 19th June 1864,
a battle ensued. After one hour the Kearsage proved the stronger and
sank the notorious Alabama. John Lancaster was in Cherbourg for the
opening of a casino with his family on his luxury yacht The Deerhound.
He put to sea to rescue crew members and landed them in Southampton that night.
 Chancel
- Round Window
Christ in majesty with sceptre and orb; with words from the Te Deum:
| We praise thee O God We acknowledge thee to be the Lord |
| 
