Bringing a beautiful art form into the 21st century
Founded in 2008, the Stained Glass Centre celebrates and extends York’s illustrious reputation for this time-honoured art form. As the centre itself puts it, “Throughout the world, only a handful of institutions are devoted to the glories and pleasures of stained glass, and none is in a city of such significance to the history of stained and painted glass as York.”
It is housed in St Martin-cum-Gregory, a redundant church on Micklegate which boasts its own beautiful stained-glass windows. But although the centre has one foot squarely in the past, it is also concerned with the present and future of stained glass. Created by the Stained Glass Trust as a national resource, the centre enables people of all ages to learn about the long tradition of this craft. Artisans from across the country come here to study and develop their skills, while visitors are encouraged not only to learn about the methods and history, but to have a go too. The centre hosts a lively programme of events, encompassing guided walks, workshops, lectures, and open days.
Info
Address St Martin-cum-Gregory Church, St Martin’s Lane, Micklegate, York YO1 6LN, www.stainedglasscentre.org, info@stainedglasscentre.org | Public Transport 2-minute walk from Tanner Row car park or 8-minute walk from Nunnery Lane car park. Closest bus stop: Micklegate | Hours The centre is open for specific events: check the website| Tip You can download A Stained Glass Walk Around York Minster from the York Glazier’s Trust website: www.yorkglazierstrust.org/resources/reading-list.
York’s love affair with stained glass can be seen at every turn. From the Minster to John Ward Knowles’s house on Stonegate (see p. 188), and encompassing many other wonderful buildings besides, the sparkle of stained glass has been illuminating the city for the last 800 years.
While the Stained Glass Centre is a relative newcomer, York Glaziers Trust is the oldest and largest stained-glass conservation studio in Britain. Among its responsibilities is the care and protection of all 128 windows in York Minster containing historic stained glass.
The trust has converted a medieval chapel into Bedern Glaziers Studio, where work to restore the Minster’s Great East Window is ongoing. The studio hosts public tours where you can watch the skilled craftsmen and women combining ancient skills with 21st-century understanding.
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