Roger Wagner, The Flowering Tree 2012, St Mary’s, Iffley

Light streams through it, and the water streams out of it. The window summons us to go beyond, below, behind. This is a particular place; on the floor beneath is the font, filled from this river. Opposite is a John Piper window, Christmas, and the same tree of life. This is also everywhere and always, because Easter has broken in. We hung the cursed man on the tree, but the curse is broken, and death bursts into flower. Christ’s Easter is not another event, as if he first suffered, then died, and then was not dead. Jesus still looks like the man on the cross. Death is still there, but in the light we see it differently. History gives way to eternity, judgement issues out in love. The view is endless. Even turning away, we find we face the font where Easter takes hold again, and we begin to live this love ourselves.

David Hoyle

Dean of Bristol