The Lame Sisters of Boxley

Set of 3 panels from Window nIII

This story concerns sisters from Boxley, in Kent, who were both born lame. They went on pilgrimage together and were both healed in the same way – by having a vision of Becket. The older sister had her vision first, and the younger sister, as anyone with a sibling will understand, was upset and jealous, weeping and praying for the saint to heal her too. In their depiction of this wonderfully human story, the glaziers portrayed the emotional connection between the sisters and squeezed a remarkable amount of action into three panels.

Window: nIII, Panel: 23b

In the first panel, we see the two sisters on pilgrimage, both walking with the aid of crutches. The older sister in front looks back at her younger sister with a look of tender concern. In all three panels devoted to their story, the older sister wears a white dress while the younger’s is pinky-brown.

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Window: nIII, Panel: 28

Meanwhile, on the right of the second panel, the younger sister, still supported by her crutches, bends in a deep bow over Becket’s tomb.

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Window: nIII, Panel: 26a

In the third and final panel, it is the younger sister’s turn to have a vision of Becket and be cured (the sleeping sister’s head and hands are exquisitely painted). On the right, her older sister stands up without any crutches and gives thanks at the tomb.

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