The cartoon was first designed by Morris (WM 95a) for a two-light window in the north transept of St Giles, Camberwell, London; the Seraph appears at the head of the left light, not in a 4-foil tracery as the cartoon indicates but under arcading, and is shown only as three-quarter length figure; the main figure under the canopy below is St Paul with sword over his left shoulder and open illuminated book in right hand (cartoon for this by WM now in the WMG A18; WM 70a) with panel of St Paul preaching (WM 871) at bottom. the right light has a fully frontal seraph under arcading above, with St John the Baptist (WM 71) under canopy, wearing cloak over hair vest and a banner held in right hand, his left raised (cartoon for this by WM now in WMG A16) with scene of the Baptism of Christ below.
The window, a memorial to Stephen Spurling (died 20 December, 1864) was destroyed in the 1939-45 war but is reproduced in A. Vallance ‘William Morris, His Art’ 1909 facing p.68.
Philip Webb was responsible for the design of the Gothic canopies (see his account book entries, dated 18 October, 1865: ‘Camberwell tracery….£1) but as Camberwell occurs in Warrington Taylor’s list (of stained glass executed by Morris & Co. 1863-68 of which a copy among Morris & Co. papers at Birmingham City Art Gallery) under the year 1866, it was probable the window was completed in that year.
