Medieval Angels in Stained Glass

The angels created by the Norwich School of Glasspainters in the 15th century could easily be described as 'Medieval Babes'. They portray all the attributes associated with the work of these skilled craftsmen ranging from: elegant to beautiful; delicate to powerful; and graceful to resplendent.

So many survived destruction simply because, as befits their heavenly role, they were placed outside the reach of man , hovering above us high in the clerestorey.

One of the most endearing features of the angels is their apparel. They are often shown wearing feathered suits, which is how angels would have been depicted in the mystery plays. The result is delightful.

Thanks to Philip Astle, who was was for many years a pro musician specialising in early music, and who has very kindly helped us identify a nember of the instruments played by our 'musical angels'.

We have pictured some of our favourite angels - if you would like to add any more please contact us!

For further information on each section pass your cursor over the narrative to the far left. To see the angels pass your cursor over the thumbnail images.

Arch Angel Gabriel The Archangels are part of the lowest hierarchy of the Nine Orders of Angels, along with Principalities and 'ordinary' Angels. Thy are the heralds of good news. Thus their main service is to reveal messages relating to: prophecies, knowledge and God's will.

Gabriel is one of the best known of the Archangels whose name means "The Strength of God." Gabriel is portrayed in many windows often as part of an Annunciation scene.

This is one of three Angel Gabriels appearing in the beautiful south nave window at Bale, all are part of Annunciation scenes.

This Angel Gabriel, located in a north clerestory window at Ringland Church, is part of an Annunciation scene.

Arch Agel Gabriel from St Peter Mancroft

Arch Angel Gabriel, located high in the east window of St Peter Mancroft, Norwich.

This is one of three Angel Gabriels appearing in the beautiful south nave window at Bale, all are part of Annunciation scenes. Musical Angels HarpsThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including: the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as 'holly-leaf' shaped) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).

It appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150:

'Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him with the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.'

Here we see a selection of harp playing angels.

This harp player is one of nine angels appearing in the south nave window at Bale Church.

This gorgeous harp player located at East Barsham is definitely one of our favourite figures.

This harp playing angel from Ketteringham is part of a series of tracery lights depicting the Coronation of the Virgin.

Mulbarton Church norfolk Angel with harp

This harp player can be found at Mulbarton.

A harp player standing on clouds, currently located at St John Timberhill Norwich. Musical Angels StringsThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as 'holly-leaf' in shaped or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).

It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150:

Here we picture angels playing a selection of stringed instruments.

This angel from Bale church is playing a typical medieval lute with fairly rounded body shape, rounded back and simple swept back pegpox. The instrument was often played with a quill plectrum. Thanks to Philip Astle for identifying the lute.

This angel from St John Timberhill (Norwich) is playing a typical medieval lute with fairly rounded body shape, rounded back and simple swept back pegpox. The instrument was often played with a quill plectrum. Thanks to Philip Astle for identifying the lute.

This Weston Longville angel is playing an excellent representation of a medieval gittern (as opposed to the later cittern) with typical graceful swept back pegbox. Thanks to Philip Astle for identifying this instrument.

Norwich Guildhall angel playing psaltery.

This angel from St Peter Hungate plays a later-medieval fiddle. Thanks to Philip Astle for identifying this instrument. Musical Angels Wind There are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as 'holly-leaf' in shape) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).

It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150 :

Included in this section are bagpipe playing angels which are located at Oxborough, Shelton, Sustead and in Norwich's Guildhall.

Norwich Guildhall angel playing bagpipes

This bagpipe player can be seen in the Norwich Guildhall.

Shelton church is the home of this angel playing the bagpipes.

An angel from St Peter Hungate playing the bag pipes.

East Barsham Churvh angel playing wind instrument

An angel in East Barsham church playing a medieval shawm, which Philip Astle believes is a soprano. He comments: 'It clearly shows the triangular or funnel shaped pirouette into which the reed fits, a ...clearly produced by a very observant artist.'

An angel from Oxborough Church playing the bagpipes. Musical Angels OrgansThere are many examples of angels playing instruments. They often flanked a central subject suitable to the tracery lights e.g. the Annunciation or the Coronation of the Vigin Mary. A varity of instruments are represented including : the harp, citole (a four-string instrument, with a body generally referred to as 'holly-leaf' in shape) or cittern (a stringed instrument of the guitar family with a flat back), bagpipes, cymbals and psalteries (a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family).

It thus appears that the musical instruments held by the angels tally fairly closely with with those named in Psalm 150:

Here we see a selection of angels playing organs

This angel found at Shelton is playing what Philip Astle believes is a portative organ, but a very vague representation showing an unusually large number of pipes but no keyboard or bellows. The player would have pumped the bellows with one hand while playing the keys with the other.

Oxborough angel playing what Philip Astle believes to be a Positive Organ. The player uses both hands on the keyboard. A second person, would be needed to pump the bellows. Angels With
Feathers Some of the most delightful figures produced by the 15th century school are the 'feathered' angels. They are in fact wearing a feather suit which typically fits low around the neck and finishes at the wrists/elbows and ankles/calves.

The angels normally also wear other clothing, however, where this is not the case they can be seen to be wearing a tightly fitted suit which makes it clear that the medieval painter was modelling the angels as they would have been represented in the miracle plays. The feathers may be coloured white although they are often enriched by staining with yellow, thus recalling Psalm lxvIII.13 'Though ye have lien among the pots yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers like yellow gold.'

Here we see a selection of angels, which don’t fit into the other categories represented on this page. Magnification makes it possible to see the exquisite detail which has been lavished upon them. We hope you like them as much as we do.

This feathered angel can be found at North Tuddenham.

This delicate looking orange winged seraphim is located at St Peter Hungate.

This lovely figure can be seen at Norwich Guildhall.

This six winged angel (seraphim) can be found at Ketteringham.

This is one of the beautiful angels lcated at Bale. Nine orders of AngelsThe Nine Orders of angels are divided into three hierarchies: the highest, the intermediary and the lower. In turn each hierarchy has three orders.

The highest hierarchy, is closest to the holy trinity and consists of the:
SERAPHIM : The highest order. Six-winged angels who surround God’s throne. They are the angels of love light and fire.
CHERUBIM: The guardians of the fixed star, keepers of the celestial records and the bestowers of knowledge.
THRONES: Bring God’s justice to us. They are sometimes called 'Wheels'.

The intermediary hierarchy consists of the:
DOMINIONS: Regulate angelic duties. They hold an orb or sceptre as an emblem of authority.
VIRTUES : Work miracles on earth. They are bestowers of grace and valour.
POWERS: Are so called because they have power over the devil.

The lowest hierarchy is made up of:
PRINCIPALITIES : Who are protectors of religion. They have command over the lower angels.
ARCHANGELS: Are the heralds of good news
ANGELS: Are the lowest of all the orders in the heavenly hierarch and closest to man.

Here we have collected a selection of panels featuring the orders of angels not shown elsewhere. There is a huge diversity in representation and detail by the craftsman which can make recognition of a specific order impossible.