The left panel of the south chancel window illustrates John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea and saying, as told in Matthew, chapter three, verses one and two, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. This is the text quoted in the lowest section of this panel.

The beginning of Luke, chapter three, explains further how John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus. “The word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”