Medieval History
When you enter King's College Chapel in Cambridge, England, the first thing you do is look up at the magnificent vault of the ceiling. For me, looking up at the beautiful fan-like splays of the ribs always made music resound in my head, perhaps a Bach chorale that I had heard performed there or perhaps something from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that is broadcast from the chapel around the world at Christmastime. Then there is the light. On a summer's day, "the windows blaze into life, walls of floating light and colour that sparkle and ripple to the changing rhythm of the clouds and sun, 'flecking the vast interior with glory,' according to one former King's undergraduate, E. M. Forster." Thus Carola Hicks introduces the windows in The King's Glass: A Story of Tudor Power and Secret Art, newly reprinted by Pimlico. It was her last book published before her death in 2010; she had been, among other jobs in a varied career, the curator of the stained glass museum in nearby Ely Cathedral. Now I'd love to go back to the chapel; I had no idea that the lovely windows had such a tumultuous and fractious history, reflecting the complicated times in which they were planned and installed. Even if I never get back, though, I am, thanks to Hicks's book, seeing the windows with new clarity.
Click here to read this book review from The Columbus Dispatch
- High-tech Glazing For Lincoln Cathedral Medieval Windows
New protective glazing could be fitted to four medieval windows in Lincoln Cathedral to protect the historic stained glass. Special monitoring sensors will even be fitted to the windows to ensure the new glazing is set at exactly the right position to...
- Norwich Medieval Masterpieces Saved For The County
Four medieval stained glass windows made in Norwich are to stay in the county after almost £200,000 was raised to buy them. Experts believe the rare circular windows, known as roundels, were made in the 16th century by city artist John Wattok for the...
- Wales: Medieval Glass Windows Cleaned After 600 Years
Members of a Neath Valley church can see clearly once more. Colourful medieval stained glass windows in Glynneath's St Cadoc's Church are being put back in place after they were removed for cleaning ? for the first time in about 600 years. The...
- Medieval Stained Glass In Wales Image Catalogue Goes Online
The University of Wales has launched an online catalogue containing over 5000 image of stained glass windows dating back to the Middle Ages. A one-day forum is being held today to formally launch the new online resource, which can be found at: http://stainedglass.llgc.org.uk/...
- Stiff Leaf, Bad Glass And Baroque Monuments.
There will be one or two new posts this week. I apologise that things have been a bit slow of late, I have the good excuse of moving house and settling into a new parish. I had a lovely little excursion last week into Nottinghamshire and one of the churches...
Medieval History
How King's College Chapel Got Its Windows
Click here to read this book review from The Columbus Dispatch
- High-tech Glazing For Lincoln Cathedral Medieval Windows
New protective glazing could be fitted to four medieval windows in Lincoln Cathedral to protect the historic stained glass. Special monitoring sensors will even be fitted to the windows to ensure the new glazing is set at exactly the right position to...
- Norwich Medieval Masterpieces Saved For The County
Four medieval stained glass windows made in Norwich are to stay in the county after almost £200,000 was raised to buy them. Experts believe the rare circular windows, known as roundels, were made in the 16th century by city artist John Wattok for the...
- Wales: Medieval Glass Windows Cleaned After 600 Years
Members of a Neath Valley church can see clearly once more. Colourful medieval stained glass windows in Glynneath's St Cadoc's Church are being put back in place after they were removed for cleaning ? for the first time in about 600 years. The...
- Medieval Stained Glass In Wales Image Catalogue Goes Online
The University of Wales has launched an online catalogue containing over 5000 image of stained glass windows dating back to the Middle Ages. A one-day forum is being held today to formally launch the new online resource, which can be found at: http://stainedglass.llgc.org.uk/...
- Stiff Leaf, Bad Glass And Baroque Monuments.
There will be one or two new posts this week. I apologise that things have been a bit slow of late, I have the good excuse of moving house and settling into a new parish. I had a lovely little excursion last week into Nottinghamshire and one of the churches...