M. E. Aldrich Rope

M. E. Aldrich Rope
Born 29 July 1891
Leiston, Suffolk, England
Died 5 March 1988 (aged 96)
Bungay, Suffolk
Nationality English
Education Attended Chelsea School of Art and LCC Central School of Arts & Crafts
Known for Stained glass
Notable work Stained glass windows

M.E. Aldrich Rope (Margaret Edith Rope) (29 July 1891 – 5 March 1988) was a British stained glass artist in the Arts and Crafts movement tradition active between 1910 and 1964. She should not be confused with her cousin, Margaret Agnes Rope of Shrewsbury, another British stained glass artist in the same tradition, active from 1910 until the Second World War. By comparison, she was more prolific an artist with a style that evolved from a recognisable Arts and Crafts school style to something simpler and more modern in her later years.

Life

Margaret Agnes Rope and Margaret Edith Rope were cousins, sharing a grandfather, George Rope of Grove Farm, Blaxhall, Suffolk (1814-1912) and grandmother, Anne (née Pope) (1821-1882). The younger Margaret was the 5th child of Arthur Mingay Rope (himself George and Anne's 5th child: 1850-1945) and Agnes Maud (née Aldrich: 1855-1943), born on 29 July 1891. She had a number of artistic relatives at Leiston and Blaxhall, Suffolk: apart from her cousin Margaret Agnes Rope, there were her uncle, George Thomas Rope, R.A., landscape painter and naturalist, her aunt Ellen Mary Rope, sculptor and sister Dorothy, another sculptor. In the family, her nickname was "Tor", for tortoise and she used a tortoise to sign some of her windows, particularly in her later years.

She was educated at Wimbledon High School, Chelsea School of Art and LCC Central School of Arts & Crafts, where she specialised in stained glass under Karl Parsons and Alfred Drury. From about 1911, she started working at The Glass House (Fulham) with her cousin, Margaret Agnes Rope, for example on the set of windows for SS Peter and Paul, Newport, Shropshire.[1] To distinguish herself from her namesake cousin, she used the professional name of M.E.Aldrich Rope (incorporating her mother's maiden name) or M.E.A.Rope. One of her friends was J.Harold Gibbons (church architect) and this connection led to her first major commission for St Chad's Church, Far Headingley, Leeds, her first large commission and among her greatest works.[2][3]

For much of her active artistic life she lived in various houses in Deodar Road, Putney, which was something of an artists' colony at that period. Around 1926, she moved to No 61, also occupied by Caroline Townshend and Joan Howson. She was also a close friend of Wilhelmina Geddes. Later, in World War II, she moved to No 81, until it was bombed. In the post-war period she was at No. 89, where she had a studio, workshop and kiln (also used by Rachel de Montmorency). She shared the house with Clare Dawson, a friend and pupil. Late in her life, she became a Roman Catholic. In mid-1978, at the age of 87, she left Putney and returned to live in Suffolk on the family farm. She died on 9 March 1988, aged 96, after suffering a protracted period of Alzheimer's Disease.

Works

Spanning a period of over 50 years, her artistic production was largely destined for Anglican churches (especially Anglo-Catholic) with a few Roman Catholic ones as well. First are windows in the United Kingdom, followed by those in other countries, in alphabetical order of county or country. Inaccessible windows have been omitted. Asterisks indicate windows of particular importance.[4]

Location Details Notes
Buckinghamshire: Eddlesborough S.Mary Nativity 2 lights 1933 .
Buckinghamshire: Lane End, Holy Trinity Annunciation and Nativity 1 light .
Cambridgeshire: Ely, Cathedral Stained Glass Museum Visitation, Franciscan Boy & a Vision of Heaven (2 panels) .
Cambridgeshire: Ickleton,S.Mary MagdaleneCrucifixion with SS.Mary Magdalene and Etheldreda (3 lights, e; 1929)**
Cambridgeshire: Molesworth,S.PeterChrist in Majesty with Nativity, Crucifixion &c (3 lights, e; 1929)**
Clwyd: Wrexham, Holy Trinity2 light window 1950.
Cornwell:Polperro,S. John the Baptist"No man cometh ..." (1956).
Cornwell: Polperro, S.John the BaptistJesus & disciples (1959–60)**
Derbyshire: Chesterfield, S.Mary & All SaintsGood Samaritan with Virgin and Child 1953 (3 lights).
Dorset:Bournemouth,Moordown,S.John the Baptist2 lancets: Florence Nightingale, Edward Jenner.
Dorset: Hinton Martel, S.JohnEight panel painted screen.
Durham: Roker, S.AndrewMural, walls and ceiling with Macdonald Gill).
Hampshire: Hartley Wintney, S.John the EvangelistCarol themes(4 lights,1939).
Herefordshire: Hereford, All SaintsExpulsion from Eden,Annunciation,Nativity,Crucifixion (4 lights 1933)**
Herefordshire: Hereford, All SaintsVirgin & child with S.Martin of Tours,S.George (5 lights 1933)**
Herefordshire: Hereford, All SaintsS.Anthony the Hermit (3 lights 1947)**
Herefordshire: Hereford, All SaintsNativity with children (3 lights 1944)**
Herefordshire:Hereford,All Saints2 lancets: SS.Joseph & David**
Hertfordshire: Bishop's Stortford, S.Michael2 lancets in porch: SS.Botolph & John of Beverley (1950).
Kent: Whitstable, All SaintsSS.Christopher & Anne (1927)*
Lancashire: Royton, S.PaulAnnunciation with Joseph & John the Baptist(3 lights 1929)*
London: Bromley, SS.Peter & Paul4 lancets: the archangels*
London:Bromley,SS.Peter & PaulEast window (3 lights 1953)*
London: Bromley, SS.Peter & PaulTe Deum (2 lights and rose 1959)*
London: Chelsea, Bourne St,S.MaryEight titles of Mary (rose window)*
London: Chiswick, SS.Peter & PaulSS.Peter & Paul, Life of S.Peter, Life of S.Paul(1955)*
London: Dollis Hill, S.Francis of Assissi, Gladstone ParkEcce Agnus Dei*
London: Dollis Hill, S.Francis of Assissi, Gladstone ParkSS.Domiunic & Francis*
London: Dollis Hill, S.Francis of Assissi, Gladstone ParkS.Clare*
London: Fulham, All Saints Putney Bridge RoadVirgin & child, scenes from Jesus' early life (1938)*
London: Grange, S.Peter8 clerestory windows (1957–60)*
London: Grange, S.Peter4 chancel windows:life of Christ (1960–63)**
London: Grange, S.PeterLady chapel "Mary hath chosen that good part" (1957–60).
London: Grange, S.Peter10 small Saints windows (1966–73)*
London: Haggerston, S.Saviour's Priory, entranceSS.Paul & Margaret originally in S.Augustine Haggerston***
London: Haggerston, S.Saviour's Priory, chapel3 windows: early life of Christ*
London: Highgate, S.Augustine,Nativity**
London: Highgate, S.Augustine,Christchild with birds*
London:Highgate,S.Augustine,Christ the King.
London: Munster Square, S.Mary Magdalene crypt6 Saints windows from S.Augustine,Haggerston***
London: Munster Square, S.Mary Magdalene cryptCoronation of BVM, Mary & child*
London: Northolt Park, S.BarnabasEast window (1954)*
London: Northolt Park, S.BarnabasWest window (1957)*
London: V&A MuseumSmall panels: Nativity *
London: V&A MuseumRoundel: S.Anthony preaching to fishes*
London: Putney, Christ the King Polish churchNativity: 3 lights (1951) *
London: Wapping Lane, S.Peter London DocksRose window with bells of London**
London: Wapping Lane, S.Peter London Docks2 lancewts: SS.Peter & Paul (1949).
London:Wapping Lane, S.Peter London DocksGood Shepherd, 3 lights (1954)**
London: Wapping Lane, S.Peter London Docks4 circular lights: 1st 4 vicars*
London: Wapping Lane, S.Peter London Docks7 Sacrament windows ex Haggerston***
Manchester: Ardwick, S.Benedict (now deconsecrated)Window in Lady Chapel, 3 lights.
Manchester: Ardwick, S.Benedict (now deconsecrated)Lancet:S.Francis (1935)*
Norfolk: Clippesby,S.PeterSuffer little children (1919 See Gallery
Norfolk: Quidenham, Carmelite Monastery16 clerestory windows designed by cousin*
Norfolk: Quidenham, Carmelite Monastery7 roundels designed by cousin*
Oxfordshire: Oxford, SS.Mary & John, Cowley Road3 lights "Bread from heaven"*
Oxfordshire: Oxford, SS.Mary & John, Cowley RoadLancet: Virgin and child*
Shropshire: Wistanstow, Holy Trinity2 lancets: SS.Wistan & Anne*
Somerset:Bicknoller, S.GeorgeLife of S.Paul(1952)*
Stirlingshire: Falkirk3 lights, Virgin and child (1929).
Stirlingshire: Falkirk4 minor windows largely decorative (c.1935).
Suffolk: Barnby, S.John the BaptistEast window (1963)***
Suffolk: Barnby, S.John the Baptist4 painted roundels*
Suffolk: Blaxhall, S.PeterPorch window (with cousin)** See Gallery
Suffolk: Chediston, S.MarySS.George & Felix (1947).
Suffolk: Earl Soham, S.Mary2 lights, SS. Edmund & Felix*
Suffolk: Kesgrave, Holy Family & S.Michael3 English Catholic martyrs* See Gallery
Suffolk: Kesgrave, Holy Family & S.MichaelVirgin & child, Walsingham (with Clare Dawson)*
Suffolk: Leiston, S.Margaret3 lights - S.Luke**
Suffolk: Leiston, S.Margaret3 lights - S.Matthew** See Gallery
Suffolk: Little Glamham, S.AndrewNativity with Gospel episodes)**
Sussex: Bolney, S.Mary MagdaleneHoly Sacraments, 1 light (1947).
Sussex: Chichester, former Bishop Otter College2 lancets - S.Francis, Bishop Otter*
Warwickshire: Coventry, S.JohnExpulsion from Eden, Annunciation*** See Gallery
Warwickshire: Leamington Spa, S.MaryS.Mary & the risen Christ**
Wiltshire: Lydiard Millicent, All Saints"All ye works of the Lord"(1963)**
Yorkshire: Leeds, S.Chad, Far HeadinglyCreation (1922)*** See Gallery
Australia: Geraldton, WA,S.Francis Xavier CathedralTwo windows.
Australia: Mullewa, WA,Our Lady of Carmel and SS.Peter & PaulGloria in excelsis.
Australia: Mullewa, WA,Our Lady of Carmel and SS.Peter & PaulPater Mi, Pater Mi (1923).
Malta: Sliema, Holy TrinityS.George (1947).
S.Africa, Ofcolaco2 lights (1951).
Sri Lanka: Passara, S.Barnabasa2 lights (1953).
Trinidad: Port of Spain, S.James the Just, Sangre GrandeOriginally 5 windows, some now lost.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Cormack, Peter (2015). Arts and Crafts Stained Glass. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. p. 250. ISBN 978-0-300-20970-9.
  2. ↑ Cormack, Peter. "Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope,F.M.G.P. 1891-1988". Journal of Stained Glass. XVIII (3): 319–20.
  3. ↑ "Life of M.E.Aldrich Rope (Tor)". Two Margaret Ropes - Stained Glass Artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "List of works of M.E.Aldrich Rope (Tor)". Two Margaret Ropes - Stained Glass Artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Retrieved 8 May 2015.

Further reading

Women Stained Glass Artists of the Arts and Crafts Movement by Peter Cormack: Catalogue of an exhibition held at the William Morris Gallery and published by London Borough of Waltham Forest Libraries & Arts Department, 1985. ISBN 0901974226

External links

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