Margaret Traherne

A stained glass window designed by Traherne in 1978 for Chailey Church. It is located in the North Chancel.thumb

Margaret Traherne (23 November 1919 — 30 June 2006) She was regarded as a leading artist of her generation. Noted for her stained glass designs, she also worked in sculpture as well as embroidered textiles and mixed media, examples of which are held in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Early life Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, Traherne moved with her family to Long Island, New York in 1925, aged six. She later attended Southend High School after returning from eight years spent in New York.

Education Traherne attended Croydon School of Art from 1936, where she studied under Ruskin Spear. It was here that she met her future husband, David Thomas, and the pair married in 1943. Chapel of Reconciliation and The Lady Chapel, Liverpool Cathedral Bapistry windows, St Peter's Church, Nottingham (1976) Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral North chancel window, St Peter's Church, Chailey, East Sussex (1978) St Cuthberts, Rye Park. Traherne wrote of this design, "I found St. Cuthbert a sympathetic character and one that people today will relate to. I hope that my feeling will come through the design." Michelham Priory of Upper Dicker, Hailsham in Sussex features Traherne's earliest known glass design, a depiction of the Virgin and Child (1956). St Kenelm window, St Peter's, Wootton Wawen (1958) St Margaret Mary Church, Park Gate, Hampshire (1966)

Works in public collections A range of works by Margaret Traherne are held in public British collections, including the following,