The Stained Glass Windows of Bedrule Church
As well as a warm and welcoming interior, Bedrule Church has some good quality stained-glass dating from 1914 and later.
Central east window commemorating the war.
The dominant east window is a three panelled composition by the well known Scottish glass artist Douglas Strachan (1875-1950), who went on to design windows in the Scottish National War Memorial and in many churches in Scotland. He was considered to be the pre-eminent stained-glass designer in Scotland and has an international reputation. The window was commissioned by Sir Robert Usher and commemorates the sacrifices made by all during the First World War.
An oak framed board in the church describes the window in detail and explains that the left lancet, or panel, is Abraham about to sacrifice his son Issac. This symbolises the sacrifice made by parents and others during the war.
The middle panel shows Christ treading on the symbols of evil, holding the parchment of revelation; with the two angels above symbolising light and love.
The right-hand panel shows the shepherds outside Bethlehem and the hope that was coming.
The lower panels feature scenes from the war, soldiers, horses, equipment, wounded, tanks, ships and - in an interesting detail - sailors from the naval brigades in the centre panel, possibly reflecting their status as the senior of the armed services.
Curiously his work at Bedrule is not listed among the commissions of Douglas Strachan.
West window featuring St Andrew and St Mungo
In the Lairds loft at the west end is another window with two panels. This work was commissioned by Lady Usher to commemorate her husband Sir Robert who died in 1933. The artist was Herbert Hendrie (1887-1946) from Edinburgh, another well- known glass artist. He succeeded Douglas Strachan’s brother Alexander as head of The School of Design at Edinburgh College of Art. He did many works for churches in Scotland, but his best-known work was a large commission at Liverpool Cathedral.
The left panel shows St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, holding a fishing net and a staff. In the right-hand panel is shown St Mungo, or Kentigern, holding a model of Bedrule Church and a Bishop’s Crozier, showing his position as the first Bishop of Glasgow. The small panel in the top centre shows the Usher badge or crest.
Window commissioned by the Turnbull Clan
A window on the north side of the nave was commissioned in 2018, funded by Wally Turnbull, Chief of the Clan Turnbull Association. It was designed by Sandy Milligan, an artist from Denholm. It was installed in spring 2019 and officially unveiled to a very full church on the day of Pentecost, the 9th June. The former Minister of the combined Ruberslaw Parishes, Douglas Nichol, came out of retirement for the event.
The text in the window design features a quote from the Bible: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations and behold I am with you always’ a reference to the emigration of Turnbulls to many parts of the world, including North Carolina, where the Clan Chief Wally and his wife Betty Turnbull are from.
Window dedicated to Alan Leadbetter
The glass in the window in the south aisle on the organ side, is dedicated to Alan Leadbetter, the son of Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter of Towerburn, who was killed in 1917. It features arms of the schools he attended and his career in the Army: Ardvreck, Rugby School, Sandhurst and RHA.
Window not described in this entry, donated by the Women’s Guild in 1992, featuring local rural life
text by Roger Curtis, images by Charlotte Maberly