Helen Rafferty Memorial Window

The window was made to commemorate Helen Rafferty (1965-2005), a prominent member of the church community, who died prematurely. Helen began her teaching career in primary schools at Bradford and Blackpool, and left from her last position as Head of Year at Tottington High School, Bury, to look after her children.

Helen was greatly involved with children's activities at St. Clement's. She and a colleague set up 'Stepping Stones' to organise purposeful, enjoyable activities for young children during church services each Sunday morning. In autumn 2000, Helen and Sarah Barber started 'Oranges and Lemons', a group for babies, toddlers and their carers, which continues to meet in this room during weekdays, and is open to families in the community. Helen often commented how wonderful it would be to brighten the room by replacing the dull, frosted glass of its large window.

In view of Helen's attachment to this room - here Helen and her husband, Andrew, celebrated the baptisms of their children William and Martha - family and friends decided to replace the old window as a memorial to Helen.

The design is based on the poem, ‘Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven’ from ‘The Wind Among the Reeds’ (1888) by William Butler Yeats (1865–1939).

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

Of night and light and the half light,

I would spread the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

The window was sponsored by generous donations from family and friends. It was dedicated at a special service conducted by the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, on Saturday 13th September 2008.

Address: Edge Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester

Lancet Windows:

Medium: Coloured, silk-screened enamels on float glass

Dimensions: 600mm x 3600mm x 4 (10.6m2)

Fabricator: Proto Studios Ltd, Pewsey, Wiltshire

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