The vivid glass, by Tom Denny, was commissioned in 1990 and installed in 1992 to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the beginning of Abbot Serlo’s building of the new abbey in 1089. The theme of the windows is that of ‘praise’. Tom’s inspiration being Psalm 148: ‘Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights’.

Initially the design appears to be abstract, but look carefully. The window on the left evokes the praise offered by creation, and here you will find (in the words of the Psalmist) ‘fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; kings of the earth  and all people’. The right-hand window reflects the praise offered by the elements, and here you can see sun and moon, fire and hail, wind and storm.  Notice how the leading gives a feeling of movement.

The central window records the moment when St Thomas realises that he is facing the risen Christ. He kneels, praising, in front of Christ, behind whom can be seen two watching apostles.*

*From Gloucester Cathedral Stained Glass – Gloucester Cathedral 2004