The Windows

The STAINED GLASS, circa 1880 is the design of Charles Earner Kernpe, a distinguished artist in that medium. The theme along the south wall is the Childhood of Our Lord: that along the north wall the events of Holy Week, the whole culminating in the lovely east window depicting the Crucifixion. Kernpe was a young cousin of Thomas Read Kemp, the founder of Kemp Town — he added the final ‘e’ himself — and the east window is, in fact, a memorial to members of the Kemp family many of whom (though not Thomas Read) are interred in the church, some of them beneath the Chancel floor. The inscription reads:—

Beneath this chancel rest the bodies of Thomas Friend who died in the year 1761: of Thomas Friend who died in the year 1763. Also of Nathaniel Kemp, John Kemp and Mary his wife, Thomas Kemp M.P. and Anne his wife, and others of their kindred

Charles Kempe was also responsible for the decorations on the walls at either end of the nave, the excellent foliage murals being designed by Somers Clarke, The west wall, containing the arms of George IV flanked by those of the Norman, William de Warenne and the Diocese of Chichester -our two principal patrons.

The windows continue the theme of those in the main body of the church and show Christ’s appearances during the 40 days between the first Easter morning and His Ascension, One of them, donated by Somers Clarke, forms part of the tribute to Henry Wagner; another, donated by Welsford Smithers, is a memorial to the Smithers family, one of whom, Henry Smithers, was mayor of Brighton in 1861 —62. He and Henry Martin, another member of our congregation who served as Brighton’s chief citizen (1866—66) are also remembered on plaques at the western end of the church. The late Alderman G.R. Baldwin, Mayor of Brighton in 1961 —62 was also a regular worshipper at St. Nicholas.

Note: The photographs were taken by Matthew Andrews. For a larger version, please click on the image.