In Saxon times, Epping was one of the many clearings in the midst of a forest, reserved for the sport of Kings.

In the time of William the Conqueror, Epping occupied a strategic place, being one of the few ‘high grounds’ in this part of Essex. On the ridge which is now the High Street beacons could be lit to warn of invasion by marauding Norsemen. The King maintained beacon tenders who later became forest keepers. He  built a small chapel on the site of the present St. John’s, to cater for their spiritual needs.

Being a Royal Foundation, the priest was paid for by the King himself. It was thus a ‘Free’ Chapel – in that it was free from the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of a bishop.  Henry II granted a charter, passing the responsibility of providing a priest for the chapel to the Abbot of Waltham.  This connection was to last for 400 years, the church being served by priests from the Abbey.

In 1547 Edward VI seized all the ‘Free ‘ Chapels and in 1551 the chapel at Epping was vested in trustees under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London.

In the window can be seen King Henry II holding the Charter of Presentation with the Abbot of Waltham in full ceremonial robes of his office. Note the monk standing ready to leave for Epping in the right hand corner of the window.
At the King’s feet are geese, red fungi and a hunting dog - all signs that are associated with the town.

 At the bottom of the window are inscriptions,

Henry II  granting the manor of Epping with the ancient chapel of St. John to the abbot and monks of Waltham Abbey AD 1160.

In memory of Joseph Thomas Humphry, barrister-at-law, who died 27th December 1887, and of Jessie Oliver, his wife, daughter of Daniel Rbt. McNab, who died 15th April 1909. This window is given by their son, Laurence Humphry.

Laurence Humphry was one of four sons, a doctor in Cambridge.  His brother, Godfrey Wood Humphry, qualified as a solicitor but never practised.  Instead he became a glass painter and partnered Gilbert Gamon to form the firm of Messrs. Gamon and Humphry of Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square, London, who designed and made the window. They were also responsible for the McNab window in All Saints’ Church, Epping Upland.  Mrs Humphry was the third daughter of Dr. and Mrs McNab.  At the time of the installation of the window (7th May 1910), the local press reported Dr. and Mrs McNab as having been “intimately associated with Epping.” We know that Dr. Daniel McNab was born in Sheffield in1791 and moved to Epping, circa 1816.  In 1832 his name is listed as a subscriber in the receipts and disbursements on the rebuilding of the Chapel in 1832.  As well as a general practitioner covering the Epping area he was, for a short time, also Medical Officer for the Union Workhouse (now St. Margaret’s Hospital).  Did he ever live in Appletree Cottage?  Is this house an inspiration for the cottage illustrated in the window, as has been suggested?  It seems unlikely as Dr. McNab never lived there; an early census reveals that by the mid-19th century he was living in a well staffed large house in the High Street!