A NEW stained glass window has been unveiled at a Cwmbran church in memory of three of its former parishioners.

The window at All Saints Church in Llanfrechfa was created by artist Helen Whittaker, who has had pieces commissioned for Prince Charles and Westminster Abbey.

It was created in memory of Jon Abbott, Denis Drew and Joyce Drew who all attended the congregation.

Mr and Mrs Drew, who were both 86 at the time of the deaths, had been crossing the road in Ponthir arm in arm on their way home from a neighbour’s house on November 13, 2013.

Mrs Drew died shortly after the incident while Mr Drew, a former head teacher, was admitted to hospital where he died on November 19. The couple had been married for 54 years.

Sarah England, one of the Drew’s daughters, said it was fitting to have her parents’ memory immortalised in the church which they both cared so deeply for.

“After the tragic circumstances in which we lost our parents, we are so glad there is now a joyous and beautiful window in the church they loved, in their memory,” said Ms England.

In her design, the artist said there were three themes running through the stained glass window which were inspired by the passage from the Bible - Corinthians 13:13.

“The central theme of this design for a memorial window is inspired by the text of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians: “And new these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the great of these is love,” she said.

“The great gift of love is a reflection of the Holy Spirit in the human mind.

“The sacrifice of Jesus is the expression of divine love, which led to hope for eternal life and which can be achieved through faith in God.

“The oak tree outside the window is the inspiration and starting point; the oak being a familiar symbol of strength and endurance, of fortitude and steadiness.

“The words faith, hope and love are written among the oak leaves, with faith at the base – the root of the tree; hope a little higher – among the branches, growing upward from faith – and finally love reaching heavenward – the fruits of the tree.“In the tracery, stars represent the heavens and our eternal resting place.

“Memorial inscriptions run across the base of both lights: to the left Jon Abbott and to the right Joyce and Dennis Drew, in lettering carefully related to that in the main lights.

“Overall, the design is deliberately conceived to be fresh and simple in appearance, allowing the view of the oak tree outside and retaining the light coming into the building,” added the artist.