‘Heavenly Light’ – The Glorious Glass of Gloucester Cathedral

On Tuesday 16 August Gloucester Cathedral will hold a special interest day dedicated to the beautiful stained glass that can be seen there.

Offering you the opportunity to learn about the making of a stained glass window – to understand how to ‘read’ a window, and to marvel at some of the finest stained glass in the country, installed from the mid-1300s to June this year. The Great East Window, in particular, is of international importance. At the time of its installation in the 1350s it was the largest window in the world, and most of its original glass survives today. The early 20th century glass in the Lady Chapel is generally acknowledged to be the best of the Arts and Crafts movement.

 

This is the perfect opportunity to come and see the very latest addition. Designed, created and installed in the Lady Chapel this year by stained glass artist Tom Denny, the stunning new window is a Memorial to Gerald Finzi, a major English composer of the 20th Century who had strong links with Gloucester and Gloucestershire.

 

Tickets cost £31.50 per person including morning coffee and lunch served in the historic Parliament Rooms. To book your place Tel: 0845 652 1823 (Mon-Fri, 10.100am – 4.00pm) or to book on line visit www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk

 

Programme:

 

For this study day binoculars are a great advantage

 

10.00am: Welcome

Meet in the South Porch (the main entrance to the Cathedral). Coffee will be served in the Chapter House.

 

10.30am: Introduction

How stained glass windows are designed, made and installed; how to ‘read’ a stained glass window; an introduction to the Great East Window: its historical context and relationship to other glass in the south-west. The presentation includes a short film produced by the Victoria & Albert Museum on the making of a stained glass window.

 

11.15am: Medieval Glass in the Cathedral

Moving to the Cathedral to study and discuss The Great East Window (1350s); the Lady Chapel east window (various periods, but primarily the late 1400s), and other medieval glass in the Lady Chapel; the heraldic glass in the cloisters (1520s and 1540s)

 

1.00pm: Lunch

Soup and sandwiches, followed by tea, coffee and a selection of cakes will be served in the historic Parliament Rooms.

 

2.00pm: 19th century glass

A study of the glass of the companies most represented in the Cathedral, especially Hardman, Wailes, Clayton & Bell and Kempe (cloisters, nave, transepts, ambulatories)

 

2.45pm: 20th century glass

Christopher Whall (Lady Chapel), Contemporary Glass (Caroline Swash, Fiona Brown, Alan Younger, Tom Denny)

 

3.45pm: Finish

 

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk