In search of Piper

A grey, wet, grisly day so I went to Fawley, high up in the Chilterns, in search of more John Piper. Piper lived nearby at Fawley Bottom and is buried in the churchyard at St Mary's, an 800 year old church. Inside, all the windows are filled with wonderful late Victorian stained glass, much of it from the pre-eminent firm of the time - Clayton & Bell. Christmas decorations meant that I couldn't photograph some of the windows so a return visit will be in order. Eventually I found the Piper window. Its tucked away in the vestry off the north transept behind heavy curtains. I pulled back the curtains to reveal the magnificent Tree of Life, filled with colourful fruit and flowers. The Tree of Life is another collaboration between John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens and was installed in 1977 as a memorial to Anthony Hartley. It was a nightmare to photograph because of its considerable size, its height above the floor, the limited space to move in while having to hold back the curtains, and the lack of light.