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NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE PRIORY CHURCH 

 AT MALVERN. 



By the Rev, G. MUNN, Rector of Madresfield. 



Mr. Muan being well acquainted with ecclesiastical architecture, and a 

 critic in painted glass, we should have printed his address in extcnso, had he 

 not with extreme modesty desired this might not be done. We are therefore 

 indebted to a friend who has himself studied the curious windows of Great 

 IMalvern Priory for the following observations, which embrace the chief 

 features descanted upon by the reverend gentleman, and so well brought out. 

 There was one point, too, suggested by Mr. Munn, which, as it is a reflection 

 upon the men of Herefordshire, we cannot pass by unnoticed, as will be seen 

 farther on, for when observations are publicly made, they are not to pass 

 unchallenged under the plea that they were not meant to be reported. 



Mr. Munn undertook to give the history of the Priory as given in its 

 painted windows, mutilated though many of them now are, and he commenced 

 with that clerestory window in the choir which contains the legendary history 

 of St. Werstan. Mr. Albert Way was the first person who drew attention to 

 the legend pictured in this window, which embodies the effort of an hermit 

 saint to establish Christian worship among the rocky solitudes of the Malvern 

 hills. These clerestory windows in the choir were put up in the fifteenth 

 century by Prior John Malverne, and, no doubt, at that time there was some 

 authentic record of the facts to which they refer among the muniments of the 

 monastery. It is remarkable, however, that Leland is the only author that 

 mentions St. "Werstan, of whom he incidentally says, that when Deerhurst 

 Monastery was burned down by the Danes, Werstan fled to Malvern. 



In the window alluded to the story of St. Werstan is shown in four 

 compartments. In the first a square plot of ground covered with flowers is 

 seen, having an angel vested in amice and alb at each of the four corner 

 stones, and in the centre is a large white key. Beneath and kneeling among 

 flower-covered slopes and terraces is an ecclesiastic kneeling, his hand lifted up 

 in prayer. Over his head is a scroll inscribed. Mr. Way was of opinion that 

 this represents a vision by which St. Werstan was induced to found an oratory 

 at Malvern; but Mr. Munn stated that it only represented "the Catholic 

 faith," that God's angels were manifested in all acts of devotion, and especially 

 in dedications to sacred purposes they were supposed to be spiritually present. 

 " With angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven," the church 

 militant on earth are said to join in worship. The key may probably represent 

 the spiritual authority given to the hermit saint. 



In the second storied pane, angels appear in the act of consecrating the 

 oratory reared by St. Werstan, who again is shown kneehng among flower-clad 

 cliffs, and above him are the golden-winged heavenly visitors. One blesses the 



