There are a variety of beautiful stained glass windows in St Mary’s church, dating from 1869 – 2014.

The oldest surviving examples are those in the St Nicholas Chapel, on the north side of the church. These windows were commissioned by Canon Bridges and made by Clayton and Bell in 1869.

The East and South Windows were all destroyed during the Second World War as a result of near-by bomb explosions. Each window was replaced after the war. The most striking replacement being the East Window in the Chancel (featured above).

Wartime damage of St Mary’s stained glass

The St George Window was donated by the Bryant family in the mid 20th century to replace one destroyed by a bomb explosion in 1944. It was gifted as thanks for the family’s survival and for the safety of their four children during the war.

The family had their corgi commemorated in the stained glass, representing the dog in this bible story.

After a bomb had fallen nearby their home on Croydon Road, their lives were believed to be saved by their corgi who distracted their attention away from the front of the house, near where the bomb had exploded.

Their daughter, a nurse during the war, is shown on the of the lower part of the left panel wearing the insignia of the Royal Nursing Corps. Their son, a member of the Royal Corps of Signals, is depicted on the right. 

St Mary’s new mascot, Cali Corgi was inspired by the corgi in this window.

Created in 2021 by local Carshalton Artist, Helena Vaughan. 

Copyright: Helena Vaughan @HelenaV_art 

Image Copyright: Stella Fitzgerald @stella_fitzgerald

Discover more about the rich history of St Mary’s on our Heritage channel.