Marc Chagall's Stained Glass Windows in Kent
- Polina Volkova
- Oct 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Just a 40-minute train ride from London Bridge brought us to the town of Tonbridge. I caught a glimpse of the medieval castle as I made my way toward the real highlight—a walk to All Saints' Church in Tudley to see Marc Chagall’s beautiful stained glass windows up close.
We were fortunate—the day turned out sunny and warm, perfect for exploring.
The path took us past flowering chestnut trees, through fields, small groves, and along a peaceful lake, eventually leading us into the grounds of Somerhill Independent School.
Interestingly, during World War I, a military camp for soldiers stood here, and in World War II, it became a prisoner of war camp.
The estate, now home to Somerhill Independent School, once belonged to the D'Avigdor-Goldsmith family, whose history is closely tied to the stained glass windows in the village church.
Sarah d'Avigdor-Goldsmith and her mother admired Marc Chagall’s work after seeing his stained glass windows for the Hadassah Medical Center synagogue at the exhibition in Paris. In 1963, 21-year-old Sarah tragically died in a yachting accident not far from Rye (East Sussex). Following Sarah's death, her parents asked Chagall to design the church's east window in her memory. To everyone's surprise, he agreed, although at first he apparently did not want to take on the job. After visiting Tudley in 1967, Chagall offered to create all the remaining windows. He made them free of charge, all twelve windows had been installed by his death at the age of ninety-eight.
After walking a few kilometers, we finally arrived at a modest church. Its simple appearance, typical of the English countryside, shows traces of restoration, with some parts dating back to the Norman Conquest.
Walking into the church, you instantly feel how special it is. The light filtering through the stained glass floods the space with deep blues, yellows, and reds. That day, the sun kept coming in and out of the clouds, which changed how everything looked inside. I imagine this dynamic interplay of light and color must have captivated Chagall when he visited Tudley, inspiring his work here.
In the stained glass window behind the altar, Christ stands at the center, surrounded by angels. Below, the sea sweeps Sarah away, while her mother mourns on the shore. At the same time, Sarah’s soul is shown rising on a staircase to heaven.
The stained glass windows on the north side focus on the theme of creation. They portray Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, along with a donkey, an angel, a dove, and a sheep. The artist also included his signature and a self-portrait within the design.
The stained glass windows on the south wall are dedicated to themes of resurrection and life, featuring warm yellow tones in some of the designs.
On our way back to the station, we strolled through fields of bluebells. April and May are the best months to see bluebells in the UK.
We spent the whole day on this adventure, combining a hike with art and the beauty of bluebells.
Food
Instead of eating out, we packed sandwiches for lunch. If you’d like to dine at a pub, keep in mind that many close their kitchens at 2 PM until the evening. While this isn’t true for all pubs, it’s a common practice, so it’s best to plan ahead.
How to Get There
Take a train from London Bridge station to Tonbridge, then walk 3.7 km or take bus 205.
What to Wear
Since there are bridleways used by horses, it can get muddy after rain, so choose your footwear wisely. Layering is essential, as you can experience all four seasons in a single day.
