Yorkshire stained glass windows feature in festive stamps

The Royal Mail is marking the build up to Christmas with the launch of festive stamps including two of Yorkshire scenes.
The Virgin and Child at All Saints Church, Otley, West Yorkshire, one of six 2020 Christmas special stamps Picture: Royal MailThe Virgin and Child at All Saints Church, Otley, West Yorkshire, one of six 2020 Christmas special stamps Picture: Royal Mail
The Virgin and Child at All Saints Church, Otley, West Yorkshire, one of six 2020 Christmas special stamps Picture: Royal Mail

It has created a set of six stained-glass Nativity scenes including All Saints Parish Church in Otley and St Columba’s Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.

The stamps are said by the Royal Mail to “showcase the extraordinary detail and craftmanship of this highly specialised decorative art, covering a range of eras, styles and technique”.

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Other windows from the following churches are included in the set include St Andrew’s, East Lexham, Norfolk; St Andrew’s, Coln Rogers, Gloucestershire; Church of St James, Hollowell, Northamptonshire; and Christ Church, Coalville, Leicestershire.

The Virgin and Child at St Columba's Church, Topcliffe, North YorkshireThe Virgin and Child at St Columba's Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
The Virgin and Child at St Columba's Church, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire

The stamps are on sale from today and will be available at www.royalmail.com/christmas2020, by phone on 03457 641 641 and 7,000

Otley vicar, Graham Buttanshaw, said: “I’m delighted that our Nativity window will be on Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps this year. We are seeing and hearing so many dark and troubling stories in the current crisis.”

Reverend Fiona Mayer-Jones, of the Topcliffe church, said: “In our small North Yorkshire village church we’re blessed by having a glorious window by one of the country’s leading Pre-Raphaelite artists, Edward Byrne-Jones.

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“The rich colours bathe us as we worship week by week; while the image reminds us that God meets us in our daily lives through the birth of Jesus Christ.”

She was delighted the window would feature on stamps.

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