St Michael and All Angels Church,
Glassenbury Drive, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN40 2NY

St Michael and All Angels Church, Bexhill

The East Wall Hangings and the East Window

The Embroidered hangings were designed and worked by Marion Cantrell in 1997 and reflect the shape of the window lights.  The whole depicts the Church as one body, with symbols to portray St Michael and All Angels and, essentially, holiness.  The central panel depicts light reaching out and the eternal serpent slain by the cross or sword of Christ’s sacrifice.  The outer panels have angelic symbols and silhouette human shapes; they are reversible, for the seasons of  Lent and Advent, with a design of patchwork crosses.




The East window was designed and supervised by Marion Cantrell.  The creative processes and installation were carried out by Shades of Light in Shadwell, London. It was dedicated on St Michael’s Day 2003.
The shapes extend and echo those in the panels below. The central dove of the Holy Spirit is surrounded with etched flames representing the sacraments. The haloes, each engraved with a different design, lift the angels, from the panels below, heavenwards.  The curved shapes in the four outer panels can be seen as wings, as in the panels below, as praying figures, or as enfolding hands supporting and uplifting us.  The play of light across the “reaming” of the hand blown glass adds another dimension to the etching.  
The appearance, and emphasis, of the window is ever changing with the variations of the light streaming in.

Descriptions of the symbolism of the hangings and window lights, and of the design process and biblical references for the window are available at the back of the church.
The hangings were given in memory of Beryl Burt and many generous donations towards the window were given in memory of loved ones.