Henry Thomas Bosdet

Jersey's churches lost all their stained glass windows in the 16th century, destroyed in the Reformation by order of Henry VIII. It is largely thanks to the work of Jersey artist Henry Thomas Bosdet that such fine windows are again to be found in many of the parish churches

*Henry Bosdet, aged five, with his parents*

Family

Bosdet was the son of merchant seaman Captain Thomas Bosdet and Sophia Mary, nee Le Roy. Born at St Helier on 7 January 1857, he was educated at Boyer's School, Beaumont, University College School, London, and the Royal Academy. On leaving the Royal Academy he became Director of an Art School in Islington. In 1890 he returned to the Royal Academy as Curator of the Life School. He painted a number of portraits and French landscapes, but abandoned this form of art on becoming interested in stained glass through his friendship with Philip Westlake.

Among his numerous stained glass windows in England are those at Hexham Abbey, Northumberland. His windows outside England include one in the English Church at Dinan and nine in the English Church in Utrecht.

Jersey work

Examples of his work in Jersey are seven windows in St Brelade's Church, five in the adjoining Fisherman's Chapel, illustrating the life of St Brendon; the Last Supper in St Lawrence's Church, the Annunciation in the Town Church, the Marriage at Cana in St Aubin on the Hill, and the reredos in St Saviour's. There are also windows by Bosdet in St Andrew's Church, St Mary's Church, St John's Church, St Luke's Church and Gouray Church. His windows at St Ouen's Manor illustrate heraldically the history of the De Carteret family. He returned to the island in 1920, went to live in the south of France in 1927, but came back again in 1931. He married Mrs Julia Marion Reece Edwards of London and then Mary Catherine, daughter of William Brereton, of Queen's College, Galway. By his second marriage he had one son, Harry Westropp Bosdet. He died at La Patrimoine, St. Lawrence, on 23 May 1934, and was buried at St Saviour.

Website devoted to Henry Thomas Bosdet, launched in 2018 Link added 2018

Family tree

Descendants of Unknown Bosdet

Gallery

Bosdet's father Thomas
Advertising for work
Detail from the Two Archangels in St John's Church
The Ascension in St Andrew's Church
The Marriage at Cana in St Aubin on the Hill
A detail from one of Bosdet's windows at St Brelade's Parish Church
Detail from The Sower at St Brelade's Church
The Crucifixion in St Brelade's Church
The original design submitted for approval of the St Lawrence window
The Last Supper in St Lawrence Church
The Good Shepherd at St Luke's Church
St Brendon saying Mass

St Ouen's Manor

A window at St Ouen's manor depicting the de Carteret family history
The Malet de Carteret coat of arms in a manor window
St Saviour and St Anne in a manor chapel window

Oil painting on public display

Bosdet also painted in oils: This painting was on public display in St Thomas' RC Church in 2024

Restored drawings

Jersey Heritage has a number of Bosdet's drawings for stained glass windows and has been restoring them and putting them on public display in the churches where the windows were installed