Looking at the building its self can give a glimpse into the past. The ornate rows of capitals above the great west door and the Norman door (outside) can give us an idea of how ornate the interior must have been. The ornate decoration and number of capitals indicates the importance of the building.
The Stained Glass Windows
The abbey nave has many beautiful windows. Here are a few things to look out for:
Signature style
Two windows dedicated to local families, both designed by Stirling stained glass designer Isobel Goudie:
And three windows which look to be the work of one designer or glass maker – identity unknown:
Biblical stories
Many of the windows show scenes from the Bible:
The Reid Window shows the ‘Family of Bethany’ and is divided into three sections:
- In the centre: Jesus with Mary seated at his feet
- Left: Martha doing housework
- Right: Mary and Martha’s brother, Lazarus, reclining on a couch.
Above these scenes we see two angels and the Lamb of God. Below, the glass shows Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus by night; Jesus blessing the children; Jesus at supper with two of the disciples at Emmaus.
A window dedicated to the Alexander family shows Jesus’ baptism. Above him is the dove descending amid a luminous ray of light; on his right is John the Baptist and on the left, his parents Mary and Joseph. The scenes below evoke the stories of ‘the Sower’, ‘the Good Shepherd’ and ‘the woman touching the hem of Christ’s garment’.
This window, designed by Sir Noel Paton and erected in memory of Margaret Atkinson Wilson by her husband Thomas Spowart, shows scenes from before and after the Crucifixion.
The centre panel depicts Jesus kneeling in the garden of Gethsemene, with an angel on one side, and the sleeping disciples on the other. Judas is seen emerging from the city beyond.
Below, we see the journey to Emmaus after the Resurrection:
- ‘Jesus drew near and walked with them’
- ‘They constrained him saying abide with us’
- ‘As they sat at meat with him their eyes were opened and they knew him.’
At the top of the window are the Christian emblems of faith, love and hope, crowned by the crown of thorns and crown of stars. At the very top is the monogram Jesus “IHS”.
