Sophie Hacker: Revealing Glory, Renewing Hope
Title: Revealing Glory, Renewing Hope
Artist: Sophie Hacker (British)
Location: East Elevation, St James’ Parish Church, Ludgershall (C of E)
Date: 2021
The title of this window is taken from the mission statement of Salisbury Diocese. It is on the east elevation in a side chapel to the south of the nave. Prior to the installation of the window, the chapel had no liturgical focus for the weekly eucharists and daily prayers.
The PCC wanted a project that would bring the community together to celebrate the story of a town that has suffered a downturn in its economic fortunes since the departure of the railway. In recent years, Ludgershall has become a town that people drive through rather than stop in, but during the First World War it was a thriving community of tens of thousands of soldiers, families, shops and pubs. Centuries before, it had an important castle which later became a Royal Hunting Lodge.
The design is inspired by a 17th-century map of the town and includes significant historical landmarks such as neolithic earthworks and an early medieval castle. The main road clearly marked on the map becomes a horizon line in the window. In the ‘sky’ above, a golden shape glows with light where the ruins of Ludgershall Castle now stand. It represents God’s glory.
Elements of the design also grew out of conversations at local community events such as coffee mornings, specially convened discussion groups and meetings with a local historian and shared memories of residents who had seen the early training flights of pilots when the RAF first came into being. These flight patterns are evoked in the swirling lines in the sky. Remembrance Day is one of the most significant events in the town’s calendar. Part of the inspiration of this project was to create a window to mark the centenary of the end of WW1. Although the project wasn’t completed in time for that commemoration, the community remained committed to seeing the window installed. Threads of poppy red are included in the ‘fields’ of the design, as a focus for Remembrance Day.
See more information here.
Further Information
Medium: Flashed Lamberts glass, opalescent glass, acid-etched, painted and stained
Permanent display
See Sophie Hacker’s Revealing Glory, Renewing Hope on the Ecclesiart map here.
Other artworks in churches by Sophie Hacker: Silver and Enamel Virge, Winchester Cathedral 2019, completed 2020; Water into Wine, The Glory Altar Frontal Epiphany Chapel, Winchester Cathedral 2019, completed 2020; The Holy Spirit Windows Sunnyside Church, Berkhampstead 2016; The Baptism Window St James's North Baddesley 2012; Alpha and Omega, St Mary’s Alderbury; Set of Ten festal copes, Winchester Cathedral; Altar and three frontals, St George’s Church, Oakdale, Poole; All The Saints, A Covid Memorial for All Saints' Church, Child's Hill, London - 2022; Bronze Processional Cross for Winchester Cathedral, 2022 and more.