“A fine tribute to many years of good will between people in Lincolnshire and the RAF base at Scampton”.
Sir Michael Graydon GCB CBE (Air Chief Marshall 1990 – 1997)
The window has now been installed and we look forward to welcoming you to see it, and also the RAF chapel in our beautiful 14th century grade II* (at risk) listed building that watches over our 107 Commonwealth War and RAF Service Graves.
The dedication service for the RAF Scampton Commemorative Stained Glass Window took place at Scampton Church the 5th September 2022. It was attended by many of the windows sponsors and distinguished guests. It marked the formal closure of RAF Scampton, one of the oldest RAF Stations in the UK. Formally a Royal Flying Corps airfield the squadrons there served to defend the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland through two World Wars and the Cold War.
The window will add to the rich RAF Heritage in a Christian setting here at Scampton Church which welcomes hundreds of visitors every year.
“As one walks towards Scampton Church and sees the graves from World War Two there is an awareness of the strong relationship between the church and RAF Scampton that has existed in times of war and in times of peace. Each of those graves has a story and inside Scampton Church there are more stories in the RAF Chapel. I am excited that a stained glass window is going to mark 100 years of relationship between RAF Scampton and Scampton Church. This will be a way to remember all who have served in squadrons at the base. I wish the project well as through beauty there will be a way to remember the bonds between RAF Scampton and the church. It will also be a reminder of the peace that Christ, the Prince of Peace, calls each of us to live out every day”.
Rt Rev. Dr David Court (Acting Bishop of Lincoln)
“I believe that the window will help to inform future generations about a past that is worth remembering”.
Air Commodore Simon A. Baldwin MBE
Post installation sponsorship
We are still accepting sponsorship of window panels with a dedication in the commemorative book to a loved one. All entries in commemorative book are now online – CLICK HERE to access it.
CHEQUES – Cheques made payable to St John the Baptist Church Scampton can be sent to Rev. Sue Deacon, Parsonage Lodge, High Street, Scampton Lincoln LN1 2SE and marked on the back RAF Commemorative Window Donation.
The leather-bound sponsors book which is displayed underneath the window.
Further information about post installation sponsorship can be obtained by emailing us here.
GIFT AID – If you pay tax in the UK (income or capital gains tax) we would be grateful if you could fill in, sign and return to us a gift aid declaration, so that we can claim back the basic rate of tax through the government’s gift aid scheme. It comes at no extra cost to you and we benefit by recovering 25p for every pound given.
Project overview
In 2018 a suggestion was put forward at Scampton Church that a stained glass window might be commissioned to mark the relationship between RAF Scampton and Scampton Church, and thereby create a lasting memory to all who served in squadrons at the base, both in peacetime, during the two world wars and the cold war.
The following organisations agreed to be non funding community and social media partners, in the planning and execution of the project.; RAF Scampton, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, The Red Arrows (RAFAT), Royal Air Forces Association, RAF Benevolent Fund, The Jon Egging Trust, Vulcan to the Sky, Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, International Bomber Command Centre, Lincolnshire Lancaster Association, Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, The Peoples Mosquito, Scampton Primary School, Pollyplatt Primary School at RAF Scampton, and The Dambusters Inn, Scampton.
Twenty two squadrons have been based at RAF Scampton since its inception and 15 of those have squadron associations. Combine this with the 65,000 members of the Royal Air Forces Association worldwide, and the thousands of followers of the Red Arrows, then it was hoped that a carefully designed crowd funding campaign would stand a good chance of success, in securing the funds needed.
Wing Commander James Parker, Officer Commanding RAF Scampton featuring in the projects launch campaign.
The RAF stained glass window will be on the south side of the church adjacent to the RAF flag.
Two well respected stained glass designers, with an impressive portfolio, designed the window. The design includes the RAF Scampton badge, alongside the winged RAF badge (per ardua ad astra) which sits proudly on 106 of the 107 Commonwealth War Grave headstones in the churchyard. The inscription on the window will read:
“Commemorating those who served at RAF Scampton 1918 – 2018”
Also included in the design are representations of an Avro Lancaster (which stood as gate guard at RAF Scampton), the Avro Vulcan (flown from RAF Scampton during the ‘Cold War’), and the Red Arrows ‘Hawk Jets’ Aerobatic Team (previously based at RAF Scampton). Only the finest materials sympathetic to our 14th century grade II* listed building were used in the construction of the window, which conversely will be protected externally by the latest technological innovation in UV resistant polycarbonate.
RAF Scampton was decommissioned by The Ministry of Defence in 2023, and the stained glass window is now known as the RAF Scampton Commemorative Window.
RAF Scampton Commemorative Window – Historical Context
RAF Scampton’s Vulcans
RAF Stained Glass Window – Associated Children’s Arts Project
We thought it was important not to just relate the project to the installation of the window but to expand it to an educational arts, history and remembrance project for our 200 local children at Scampton C of E Primary School and Pollyplatt Community Primary School.
The children heard of the history of RAF Scampton and the sacrifices made by previous generations which enable them to live in a free and democratic country. This history was delivered by Squadron Leader Mark Discombe (spitfire pilot and officer commanding the BBMF) and Ray Bainborough (chairman of the Lincolnshire Lancaster Association).
Then, under the guidance of the commemorative window designer Claire Williamson, the children individually designed, and made a glazed tile based on their understanding of what ‘remembrance’ means to them. The tiles were formed into framed collages and presented at a special remembrance service held in 617 hanger at RAF Scampton. They were presented to RAF Scampton, The Red Arrows, each school, Scampton church and The Dambusters Inn.
We thought that this would be especially significant in bringing the children together on a project, following the covid-19 lock downs.
Through this ‘Fresh Expression’ of Church this project will help ensure that the 200 children will be more aware of the ultimate sacrifice given by the 107 British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand airmen buried in the Commonwealth War Graves in our churchyard. Also it is hoped that through the associated education and learning in making the remembrance tiles, based on their understanding of ‘remembrance’, that this will help the children appreciate the democratic and free country in which they live.
We are grateful to Ray Bainborough, chairman of The Lincolnshire Lancaster Association, who will be our historic advisor during the schools remembrance project, and to Squadron Leader Mark Discombe (Commanding Officer of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Spitfire pilot) who will talk to the children about the significance of ‘remembrance’.
Here’s a video created by ITV News of the Remembrance Service.
Crowd Funding Films
We would like to thank the staff and students at Lincoln University Media Studies (New Media Linc’s Showreel), who created the films to help launch the crowd funding appeal.
The films includes contributions from Wing Commander Parker (OIC RAF Scampton), Wing Commander Keith (OIC Red Arrows Aerobatic Team), Johnny Johnson MBE DFM (last surviving original member of 617 squadron), Bill Ramsey (Retired RAF Scampton Vulcan and Red Arrows pilot and BBMF pilot) our local minister Revd. Sue Deacon, and children from our local schools.
The media campaign is ‘fronted’ by a four minute video which sets out the rationale behind the window and makes links to the historical relationship between Scampton Church, the Commonwealth War graves and RAF Scampton. The video was launched on social media and will be updated with periodical edits.
Feedback
Following feedback we received on the conceptual design of the window from the station commander at RAF Scampton, the Diocese and Historic England stained glass window advisor and other interested parties some amendments have been made and the final design decided upon.
A sketch of the final design is shown below. However the Queens crown on the RAF badge (per ardua ad astra) will be replaced with the Kings crown.
Illustrated below are artists impressions of the window and more detailed sketches of the three iconic aircraft.
The objectives for the window emphasise a new peace, reverence, remembrance, liberty, protection, gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice. Therefore a dove with an olive branch has now been incorporated into the design. This will sit in the rose window above the commemorative windows.
The target funding for the complete project is £23,927, and all donations are red circled to ensure continuity of funds towards said target. If the funding does not meet the target, the design of the window will be reduced accordingly. This may result in a vastly scaled down version of the artwork, simply featuring the aircraft on panels of plain glass.
We would also need to make cuts to the children’s art and remembrance scheme. In the event of the campaign exceeding the target, be assured that funds will be put towards re-ordering the building to create a Community Church and RAF Heritage and Commonwealth War Graves Centre, at Scampton church.
An illustration of a similar dove in a church window created by the artist.
Download our RAF Commemorative Windows leaflet to learn more about our unique stained glass which remembers RAF Scampton and 617 Squadron ‘The Dambusters’.
Thank you to the following organisations for their support of this meaningful tribute.
