Brian Thomas

Brian Thomas, painter and stained glass artist, executed six lancet windows in Westminster Abbey below the north transept rose window. These replaced memorials to men who died in the Indian Mutiny which were damaged by blast during the 1939-1945 War. Installed in 1958 the scenes depict the Six Acts of Mercy from St Matthew's gospel - feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, harbouring the stranger, visiting the sick and ministering to prisoners. Designed to harmonise with the 18th century glass in the rose window the glass was made at Whitefriars Studio by James Powell and Sons and is of a type known as seedy glass, being deliberately filled with tiny bubbles. The thickset peasant figures are portrayed in a brown monochrome but the colours in the design range from crimson to vivid blue-green. 

Brian Thomas was born on 19th September 1912, son of Frank and Margaret (Lauder). During the war he worked in the camouflage section of Home Security. From 1946-1954 he was Principal of the Byam Shaw School of Art. He was also Master of the Art Workers Guild and held many other posts. He executed stained glass for the American and OBE chapels in St Paul's cathedral, and did work at Winchester Cathedral and St George's chapel Windsor, as well as murals and mosaics in various London buildings. His memorials include one to Dame Nellie Melba. He died on 13th December 1989. A memorial service was held at St Giles in the Fields in London.

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