RAF Stained Glass Window at Scampton Church

An appeal has recently been started to commission a stained glass window that would be put into Scampton Church to mark the 100 years relationship between RAF Scampton and Scampton Church (1918 – 2018) and thereby also 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. No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron was never based at Scampton, but many of our Association members will have served at Scampton, and might like to know about the appeal.

The Ministry of Defence have announced that they intend to decommission RAF Scampton in 3 years time. A suggestion was put forward at Scampton Church that a stained glass window might be commissioned to mark 100 years relationship between RAF Scampton and Scampton Church (1918 – 2018) and thereby also 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 have 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, Royal Air Forces Association, Red Arrows Association, 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 is hoped that a carefully designed crowd funding campaign would stand a good chance of success, in securing the funds needed.

Two well respected stained glass designers, with an impressive portfolio, have 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 'Vulcan to the Sky' Avro Vulcan (which flew with 27 squadron from RAF Scampton) and the Red Arrows 'Hawk Jets' Aerobatic Team (currently based at RAF Scampton). Only the finest materials sympathetic to our 14th century grade II* listed building will be used in the construction of the window, which conversely will be protected externally by the latest technological innovation in UV resistant polycarbonate.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the Crowd Funding campaign may do so by going to https://scamptonchurch.org, then selecting ‘What’s Going On’ and ‘RAF Stained Glass Window’.