St Paul's Cathedral, London
Centenary Window – OBE Chapel (1.5m x 2.4m) Shortlisted 2014
I was selected to submit a design for a new window in the OBE Chapel of St Paul’s Cathedral, celebrating the centenary of the Order of the British Empire. My design is based on the seven Heavenly Virtues, celebrating the work of the Order in recognising valuable effort and achievement, with Faith at the centre, inspired by Wren’s rebuilding of the Cathedral on the site of the ancient church of St Faith.
The overall colour scheme is simple and bold, with the red of energy and action at the outer edges gradually moving through the rose pink of the Order to the calmer, more meditative blue in the centre, symbolising Faith. The seal of the Order is shown in the centre, with radiating pencil bevels of glass echoing the shape of the Commonwealth symbol; the modern-day successor to the British Empire. The text incorporated within the rays is taken from Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews [Hebrews 11:1] and articulates the meaning of Faith as ‘the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’. Thus God’s light shines on the Order, which in turn illuminates, recognises and inspires good works and achievements across the Commonwealth.
To either side, the remaining six Virtues are arranged along the grey and rose pink ribbons of the Military and Civil Divisions of the OBE Order, placed at the point of transition between red and blue of the background. Each Virtue is represented by its traditional symbol: the Scales of Justice, the Vessels of Temperance, the Shield of Fortitude, the Flames of Charity, the Anchor of Hope and the Compasses of Prudence.
Twelve coloured ‘jewels’ refer to the twelve foundation stones of the Heavenly Jerusalem [Revelation 21:19-20] and symbolize the twelve disciplines acknowledged by the order. The play of light from the faceted jewels hints at the beauty of stars shining in the darkness, inspiring us to aspiration and achievement. The wave border, incorporating the centenary dates 1917 and 2017, evokes the sea which separates, yet is common to, all the realms of the Commonwealth.