July 2024
This church in the rolling hills of Gloucestershire is most notable for its collaboration amongst the greats of the Arts and Crafts Movement in England.
It is a celebrated early work by the important church architect G F Bodley, incorporating notable stained glass by William Morris and his company Morris & Co.
You approach All Saints from the road and then walk through its quaint and historic cemetery.
The tombs of the Marling family
Samuel Stephens Marling, owner of several cloth mills, bought property in Stanley Park and donated some to build Selsley Church. He then spent £3785 on its construction.
The wall separates the church from what was once the Marling estate.
All Saints is the only church where the complete scheme of windows was designed and executed by Morris, Marshall, and Faulkner and Company.
This Window is St Paul Preaching at Athens. The top roundel shows an angel with cymbals by William Morris and the two roundels with a pelican and lamb are by Philip Webb.
The next window shows the Sermon on the Mount with Christ and his close circle. The left panel shows a wealthy merchant and the right shows the poor and sick. The center roundel shows an angel playing a pipe.
On the left is the Nativity with the Adoration of the Shepherds by Ford Madox Brown. The roundel shows an angle with a censer, and it is by Dennis Gabriel. Rosetti.
On the right is the Visitation by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, with a roundel showing an angel playing the viol by William Morris.
On the left is the Ascension, the roundel shows an angel playing a dulcimer by William Morris.
On the left is The Ascension based on the Piera della Francesa (1463). On the right is The Resurrection, both by Philip Webb. The roundel above the resurrection is by Rosetti. The roundel above the Ascension is by William Morris.
The Rose Window center circle is Christ seated above the waters, by William Morris or Burne Jones. The roundels, beginning at the top, are The Holy Spirit as a Dove, by Philip Webb. Next, Light and Darkness – Heaven and Earth – Vegetation and Sun, Moon and Stars- are either by Wiliam Morris or Burne Jones. The sixth is Birds and Fishes by Philip Webb. Adam and Eve are possibly by William Morris, and the last is Adam Naming the Beasts by Philip Webb.
The bottom four are the prophets, thought to be from designs by George Campfield, a glass painter who later became the foreman of Morris and Co.
The pulpit was carved by Thomas Earp of London.
G.F. Bodley designed the pews and choir stalls as well as the communion rails and door ironwork.
The windows in the North Aisle are by Philip Webb and show the symbols of the Evangelists.
