January 5, 2015

New Window at St. Martin’s Church, Bladon Will Commemorate
Churchill at His Burial Site. Donations Are Sought.

The parish church of St. Martin’s, Bladon is the final resting place of Sir Winston Churchill and the members of his immediate family. The Parochial Church Council and congregation have decided to mark the 50th anniversary of Churchill’s death by establishing a permanent memorial within the fabric of the church and have commissioned a stained glass window that will stand for as long as the church itself. Your support is sought.

Located within view of Blenheim Palace, Sir Winston’s birthplace, the church is visited each year by thousands of people from all over the world. In accordance with his wishes Sir Winston has a simple grave in the churchyard, but until now there has never been a memorial to him inside the church itself.

The final design seen below has been created by Emma Blount, an award-winning artist with stained-glass work in churches in the USA and Britain. Her window is an ideal mix of Christian imagery and subtle tribute.

2024 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 41st International Churchill Conference. London | October 2024

More

The window will be a major feature of the church and will include the first visual representation within the church of St. Martin himself, the patron saint of soldiers. Also featured will be St. Alban, an early English saint. Close inspection reveals the many references to Churchill through use of heraldry and images: a black swan, the Stars and Stripes, regimental cap badges, his coat of arms, his “Commando” Liberator aircraft, and even his racing colours. Also included are reproductions of famous speeches, quotations and letters.

The Church Council are asking for donations towards this memorable project. Donor’s names will be recorded in a special commemorative booklet, with those contributing over £200 listed as “Patrons.” In addition, those who donate over £500 will be presented with a certificate to record their contribution.

If you would like to help realise this wonderful project, please CLICK HERE to download the form (particularly for those in the UK who may be able to give via Gift Aid) and return your cheque made out to “St Martin’s Church Bladon” to the treasurer, Dr Colin Snowdon, 21 Plane Tree Way, Woodstock, OX20 1PE, United Kingdom.

If you prefer to pay by bank transfer, the sort code is 20 98 48 and the account number 83156532.

For those outside the UK please use: IBAN GB08 BARC 2098 4800 6973 03; SWIFTBIC BARCGB22

To learn more about Winston Churchill, please visit www.winstonchurchill.org.