Christmas gifts

'On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. 

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts 

of gold and of incense and of myrrh.' Matthew 2:11

My Christmas gift to you is this beautiful stained glass window, depicting the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. The window graces the Hope Chapel (named after the first vicar, Rev'd Frederick Beresford Hope) at St. Peter's Church, Shipley - my home church. The church was consecrated in 1909 though the window was added slightly later as a memorial to a parishioner. Much of the fine detail is painted on the glass and it has wonderfully rich colours.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope you receive gifts today, those wrapped in paper perhaps and, more importantly, those less tangible but nevertheless very real. 

Wishing everyone a very joyful and peaceful Christmas. 

'It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold....

And man, at war with man, hears not

The love-song which they bring. 

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,

And hear the angels sing.'

E H Sears 1810-76