30/09/2026
Karl Parsons died in 1934, aged just 50 years old.
His elder sister, Beatrice, a fellow artist, worked for stained glass artist Christopher Whall, and was instrumental in apprenticing her younger brother, aged just 15 at the time, to him. Parson’s learnt much from working with Whall, including working on commissions in Gloucester Cathedral, and, like Whall, teaching at the Central School of Arts and Crafts.
From 1908 to 1930 Parsons had his own studio in the Glass House in Fulham where he developed a number of innovative techniques to increase the technical richness of his windows. His first commission there was for Church of St Alban in Hindhead, Surrey.
We are fortunate to have 3 panels by Karl Parsons on display at The Stained Glass Museum. The first two, both made in 1913, were originally for St Michael’s Church in Sulhamstead, Berkshire
In the first, which depicts ‘Christ the Good Shepherd’ Parsons makes effective use of the sumptuous gold-pink slab glass of which he was so fond. Made by the addition of gold dust to the crucible of molten glass, it was one of the most expensive colours available.
The second 1913 panel from the same church features St Columba. St Columba was born in Donegal in the 6th century. He was one of thirteen monks to settle on the island of Iona and the leading figure in converting a tribe known as the Picts to Christianity.
Finally, this humorous panel, made c.1920 shows two characters in medieval costume attacking each other. It illustrates a comic poem written by the artist, Karl Parsons (1884–1934). 'O hark to the haut-boys (oboes), give ear to the gongs / That sound for the Tourney of Hammer and Tongs / The clang-tankerous sound to which everyone throngs...' is always popular with our visitors!
Did you know that you can support the museums collection directly by donating towards our Collections Fund, the only fund ringfenced to support the collection, conservation and display of our collection. You can find out more here: https://stainedglassmuseum.com/collectionsfund
