Swaffham Prior: children create stained glass as villagers rededicate unique war windows

A unique set of stained glass windows depicting scenes from the First World War have been rededicated in a ceremony at a Cambridgeshire village church.

St Mary’s Church in Swaffham Prior has remarkable stained glass windows which were installed to commemorate 23 men associated with the village community who were killed in the conflict.

Benefice secretary Dee Noyes said: “The windows are unique. As far as we know there are no other stained glass windows in this country that have depictions of soldiers in modern battle dress, weaponry and armaments, and women working in shell factories.”

The windows were a war memorial for the men, only two of whom were buried in the churchyard.

However, the windows caused controversy when they were first installed in the church as non-conformists and Catholics felt they could not visit.

Children from Swaffham Prior C of E school have also designed a modern window for the final pane depicting scenes from village life, including a windmill, plus a picture of children holding hands around the world.