Archibald John Davies

Archibald John Davies (27 June 1877 – 18 June 1953), sometimes known professionally as A. J. Davies, was an English stained glass artist associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He is noted for establishing the long-running glass studio at the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts in Worcestershire, which produced more than 300 windows under his leadership, primarily ecclesiastical commissions for church buildings in the UK and overseas.

Early life and education

Davies was born in Islington, London, on 27 June 1877, the third of eight children of John Davies, a drysalter clerk from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, and Jane Davies from Colton, also in Staffordshire. In 1884, the family moved to Moseley in Birmingham. Census records indicate that by 1891 the household included six children and two live-in female servants.

Davies passed the admission examination for the King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys in July 1887, beginning his education there at the age of ten. At school he excelled in sports and drawing, with art instruction provided by visiting masters.

Davies was highly successful at the school, receiving prizes in student exhibitions, including a special prize in 1898 for three pencil and ink studies and an oil painting. He progressed to stained glass design under Payne and qualified as an art teacher, subsequently holding positions at Grace Road and Conway Road Branch Schools.

At Bromsgrove, Davies ran a studio designing and producing stained glass commissioned primarily for ecclesiastical settings and occasionally for secular ones. Under Davies' 47-year tenure, After continual operation for forty-seven years, the stained glass studio at the Bromsgrove Guild closed upon Davies' death.

The archive of Davies' studio is held in collection of the Worcestershire County Museum as part of the larger archive of the Bromsgrove Guild itself. The museum has also independently acquired several of Davies' works in glass. The museum collections of Warwick and Hartlebury, and of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, possibly include the nine glass panels depicting Shakespearean scenes designed by Davies in 1923. These were rescued in 1967 at the behest of Davies' daughter Barbara Morrison when the West End Cinema, Birmingham, was demolished.

On 7 April 1968, a stained glass window commemorating Davies' work, and the work of all members of the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts, was unveiled in Bromsgrove Congregational Church, in Bromsgrove. It was unveiled by Warwickshire's cricket captain, Alan Smith. It was donated by Davies' daughter Barbara Morrison and her husband. In 1966 the Hartlebury museum exhibited three small stained glass items by Davies, as "the forerunner of a bigger exhibition" of his work.

Themes and style

St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton, West Midlands – Sarah Eliza Brevett memorial window, Christian charity (c.1913); Archibald Fisher Smith memorial window, Sir Galahad before the image of Christ (c.1920).

Church of St Mary, Rhuddlan, Denbighshire - Geoffrey Seymour Rowley memorial window, Sir Galahad before the image of Christ (1919).

Church of St John Baptist, Stock & Bradley Green, Worcestershire – First World War memorial rose window, regimental cap badges (1920).

Bradford Cathedral, West Yorkshire – First World War memorial window to the 6th Battalion, The Prince of Wales' Own West Yorkshire Regiment, Crucifixion scene with soldier (1921).

Church of St Thomas, Toronto, Ontario] - Thomas Brehaut Saunders memorial window, St Joan of Arc with Angel (1922).

St Cuthbert's Church, Sheffield, South Yorkshire – war memorial window (1922).

Hereford Cathedral, Herefordshire – Two windows in Stanbury Chapel, showing scenes from the life of Bishop John Stanbury (1923).

Church of St Margaret, Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff - Gwilym Jones memorial window, Christ and Mary Magdalene (c.1924); M. Morgan memorial window, Sir Galahad before the image of Christ (c.1930).

Church of All Saints, Mappleton, East Riding of Yorkshire – Memorial east window depicting the Crucifixion scene, dedicated to Augusta Wheen who died in 1916. (1926) .

Church of St Mary de Wyche, Wychbold, Worcestershire – Richard Holmden Amphlett memorial window, Virgin and Child with St Richard de Wyche (1927).

Church of St Mary of the Assumption, Market Lavington, Wiltshire – East window, Assumption of the Virgin (1931).

All Saints Church, Claverley, Shropshire – Laura Orme memorial window, Virgin and Child with Angels (1934); South aisle window, Christ Child (1936).

Church of the Ascension, Hall Green, Birmingham - Three-light window depicting Christ and the dove of peace; one of at least four windows by Davies. (1946).

St Michael and All Angels, Claverdon, Warwickshire – Window dedicated to Lottie Matilda Alexander, and depicting Faith and Charity. (1948).

Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Combe Martin, North Devon - Three-panel window illustrating the calling of St Andrew and St Peter (1950).

Church of St Matthew, Bankfoot, Bradford, West Yorkshire - Walter Mather memorial window, Suffer the Little Children to come unto Me (c.1950); Owrid Tordoff memorial window, the Risen Christ (c.1950).

Gallery