Discover Kempe and Burne-Jones
with the Open Church Network

Charles Eamer Kempe apprenticed at The Clayton & Bell Studio in London then opened his own studio in 1866, where he created stained glass windows that can be seen around the world, including in the churches of Hanmer, Overton, Rossett and St Giles, Wrexham.

Many Kempe windows can be identified and roughly dated by the “wheatsheaf signature”. Until 1895 this consisted of three wheatsheaves on a red shield trimmed with gold. From 1895 a single wheatsheaf was used. After Kempe died in 1907 the company carried on and a black tower was superimposed on the wheatsheaf. Examples of all these can be discovered in the Open Church Network churches. The North window at Hanmer illustrates the Genesis story of Abraham and Sarah.

For the Centenary of Kempe in 2007, the OCN commissioned a work of art by a young artist from NEWI. This is to tour the churches from its base in St Giles Wrexham.

Sir Edward Burne-Jones was a member of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. This group of young Victorian artists thought the decline of painting had begun with Raphael (who died in 1520).

As well as painting historical romances, Burne-Jones designed religious stained glass windows for neo-Gothic churches, such as Christ Church, Rossett. His work is easily recognisable: the figures, dressed in intensely coloured, flowing robes and set against a delicate abundance of leaves and flowers, are idealised, young and dreamy.  Discover Burne-Jones at Rossett and St Giles, Wrexham.