St. Luke, Physician, by Clayton & Bell of London, 1917

Luke, the writer of the third gospel and also The Acts of the Apostles, was called by Paul “the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). He was a Greek who traveled a great deal with Paul, recording these journeys in the book of Acts, and was one of the first members of the Christian church at Antioch. He does not do any doctoring in the New Testament, but his gospel is full of stories of Jesus’s compassion and mercy, clearly things that are important to Luke. There is no consensus on his death. Some say he lived to be an old man, dying at the age of 84, and some say he was martyred with St. Andrew. His relics are in Constantinople.

In this window, he is shown holding a book which represents his Gospel. In his other hand he holds a plant representing healing herbs. At his feet are other plants. Luke appears to be standing in a garden niche, in the Gothic style made popular when the medieval art of stained glass was revived in the 19th century.

One of the characteristics of this window that is similar to other windows by the firm of Clayton and Bell of London is the style of the writing of the inscription. (See also the St. Luke/St. Mark window in the south clerestory)