York Minster
Conservation of World’s Largest Medieval Stained Glass Windows
York Minster completes conservation of St. William's Window and begins work on Great East Window thought by historians to be equal in importance to the Sistine Chapel.
Saint William’s Day Celebrations
York Minster is the largest cathedral in northern Europe with more than 100 stained glass windows including the Rose Window and the Great West Window. On Saint William’s Day this year (8th June 2007) the Minster will celebrate the completion of the conservation of the Saint William’s Window. However, their work will only be half done as they are about to embark on another huge conservation scheme.
Because there is so much stained glass at York, the city has become a centre of excellence in the conservation and restoration of stained glass. The conservation project has been carried out by The York Glaziers Trust who are experts in this field.
When stained glass was first invented it provided the medieval world with a new forum for displaying art. The main purpose of the colourful windows was to relate the stories of the Old and New Testaments. The windows also recorded a great deal of social history. In medieval times the average man was usually illiterate and so these windows provided explanations and education. Modern stained glass windows have the same purpose but fortunately most of us are literate.
Saint William’s Window
One of York Minster’s very famous windows is the Saint William Window completed in approximately 1414. William Fitzherbert, great-grandson of William the Conqueror and Treasurer of York Minster in about 1113, became Archbishop of York in 1143. He was canonised after his death in 1154. Thousands of pilgrims have visited his tomb and many claim to have had miracle cures.
This historically important window, located in the North Quire Aisle, comprises 100 panels and is dedicated to the life of Saint William, patron saint of York. What is incredible is that when these windows were created the medieval craftsmen took such great care and painted the tiniest of details even at roof height where no one could possibly see such minute details.
In the centuries since its completion the St. William Window has been repaired several times but with each repair more and more lead has obscured the window so that the pictures were difficult to see. A lot of the glass was sound but some was badly damaged. Glass inserted during earlier restorations has been kept as far as possible.
The project has taken ten years to complete. Most of the surplus lead has been removed, missing glass replaced, and the whole window has been carefully cleaned and restored it to its original beauty.
The Great East Window
The Minster is also home to the largest stained glass window in the world, the Great East Window. This huge window is reputed to be equal in importance to the Sistine Chapel ceiling in Rome. The window was completed around 1408 by York Minster’s chief glazier, John Thornton of Coventry. Copies of Thornton’s original contract still exist and show that he was paid £58 for the work at the time.
The window comprises144 main panels and 167 tracery panels. It shows scenes from the beginning of the world in the Old Testament through to scenes of the apocalypse from the Book of Revelation. The panels along the bottom of the window show a mix of legendary and historical figures, kings and saints, together with the wealthy medieval patrons who donated money for the window.
Although the Great East Window has been restored previously much of the glass is missing. In common with all very old stained glass windows the lead becomes weak and the windows eventually buckle and crack. There is also an accumulation of dirt from the environment. All these problems will be addressed during the conservation programme. It is estimated that the work will take another ten years to complete so visitors to York Minster will have a long wait to see the window restored to its former glory.
