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Installation of new Stained Glass Windows

"The Angel of the Lord appeared unto Mary,

and she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Our new sanctuary windows display this mystery of our salvation.  The Angel Gabriel announces the joyful news of God's will for her.  Mary humbly responds in faith, and the Holy Spirit descends upon her bringing about the fulfilment of that promise.

I hope that these windows will always communicate something of the joy and wonder of the Annunciation, reminding each of us of god's loving call to us.  Each call indivdual and personal, but at the same time, a call to build the whole community of the Church, and so to bring about the peace and justice that is god's will for all men and women.  

The names of just some of our local Saints are in the two outer windows-- St. Felix, the first Bishop of the East Angles;  St. Fursey the Celtic monk who with Felix brought the light of the Gospel to our region, based at Burgh Castle;  St. Withburga, associated with East Dereham: St.Walstan, the farm labourer from Taverham; and St. Rpbert Southwell. the martyred Reformation Priest and Poet--along with the medieval mystic, Mother Julian of Norwich, remind us of our heritage, of those who respond to God's call in the past.  

The other blank panes of coloured glass set within the circular movement of the whole, represent those holy men and women whose names are not featured in histories and hagiographies, but who also sought to fulfil their vocations in so many walks of life--some of which we share today.  Together they make up the Communion of Saints, into which we are called. Little Baby Grace O'Neill's name is to be found amongst the names of the saints in our windows.

Paul Quail, the artist from whom we commissioned the windows, his wife Jane, and Lillian, both of whom assisted him throughout the process of design and production, were present at Mass and the Blessing of the Windows on our Parish Feast Day...      25th March 2009.