It is not quite clear when Stainer first became associated with St. Cross Church. His first contact with the church may have come during his period as organist of Magdalen College, but his main involvement came following his return to Oxford once he had left St. Paul’s. The Stainers lived at 10 South Parks Road (now demolished), a house which was within the Parish of St. Cross and only a short walk from the church. Stainer’s attendance at St. Cross may in the first place have stemmed from his simple proximity to the church, but it was noted that he became very fond of the church and it was where he chose to be buried. Stainer seems to have appreciated the musical quality of the services – the Vestry minute book from the period notes: ‘Sir John Stainer spoke in praise of the musical portions of the services’ (Vestry Minute Book, 7 Apr. 1896). It should be noted that Stainer seems to have regarded attendance at St. Cross as part of his private life and never had any formal musical responsibilities in the parish – the church already had its own organist.
Sir John Stainer’s first official connection with the work of the parish came in 1891. The church created a special committee to oversee and raise money for repairs to the fabric of the building; in particular, repairing the roof, improving the windows and redecorating. Stainer was appointed as one of the members of this committee. Over the next two years, this body raised over seven hundred pounds and was able to carry out all the desired repairs.
In April 1895 Stainer became Churchwarden, being nominated as the ‘People’s warden’, and also became a member of the Church’s Finance Committee. Stainer was re-elected as warden in succeeding years before retiring from the post at Easter 1899. Nonetheless he continued to serve on the Finance Committee, and was nominated as a sidesman.
Sir John and Lady Stainer took a full part in the life of the parish and were regular contributors to a number of charitable funds associated with the church. They contributed to the clergy fund (which was used to support the ministers), and to funds for the church magazine, heating, decoration, flowers and temperance society. The Stainers were important financial contributors to the work undertaken by the church in the local community. They gave money to the school which at one time stood next to the church, and provided subscriptions for two special St. Cross charities which helped with the cost of coal and clothes bought by poor members of the parish. When Sir John Stainer died in 1901, the new Churchwardens noted ‘ … the interest which Sir John had taken in all things connected with our parish’ and remarked that he attended all parish gatherings and special events. The Vicar wrote to the widowed Lady Stainer: ‘no-one could make up to us for the loss of one who so thoroughly gave himself to help forward all that was for the good of the people’ (H. Francis Leigh, Vicar to Lady Stainer, 10 Apr. 1901 in Vestry Minute Book).
Some months after Stainer’s death, the window at the east end of the south aisle was badly damaged – perhaps as the result of an attempted burglary. Lady Stainer offered to replace the damaged window at her own expense with a special window commemorating Sir John. The parish agreed gladly. The new stained-glass window was dedicated on 23 March 1902. The theme of the window is the adoration of the Lamb of God by a group of angels. The angels are depicted singing and playing a variety of musical instruments.
Below: The Stainer window in St. Cross Church and Detail
