Stained glass in Liverpool Cathedral

The stained glass in Liverpool Cathedral all dates from the 20th century. The designs were planned by a committee working in conjunction with the architect of the cathedral, Giles Gilbert Scott, with the intention of forming an integrated scheme throughout the cathedral. A number of stained glass designers were involved in the scheme, but the major contributors came from James Powell and Sons (Whitefriars Glass), in particular J. W. Brown, James Hogan, and Carl Edwards.

The subjects portrayed in the windows are numerous and diverse. They include scenes and characters from the Old and New Testaments, evangelists, church fathers, saints, and laymen, some famous, others more humble. The windows in the Lady Chapel celebrate the part that women have played in Christianity. The designs in the windows at the ends of the cathedral are based on canticles, the east window on the Te Deum laudamus, and the west window on the Benedicite. The earlier designs are dark, but the later windows are much brighter and more colourful. Much of the glass was damaged by bombing in the Second World War. The windows replacing them were based on the originals, but often using simpler and more colourful designs.

History

The foundation stone of Liverpool Cathedral was laid on 19 July 1904, and it was completed in 1979. Giles Gilbert Scott won the competition to design the cathedral, and a Stained Glass Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Frederick Radcliffe was established to organise the design of the stained glass in the windows. The architect worked with the committee initially to decide on "the main lines on which the design of the window should be based and the extent to which is to be of clear glass or coloured". The committee then decided on the subjects to be depicted and, in discussion with the stained glass artist, agreed on the details of the design; Scott was concerned from the outset that "the windows should not detract from the architecture". The committee continued to work during the construction of the cathedral under a series of chairmen, whose discussions were often very detailed. The oldest windows in the cathedral are dark in colour, but with changes in manufacturing techniques from the 1930s, the later windows are much brighter and more colourful.

Description

Lady Chapel

The Lady Chapel was the earliest part of the cathedral to be built. There was a competition in 1907 to design the windows, which was won by James Powell and Sons, who commissioned J. W. Brown as designer. Brown had worked for Powell's until 1886 and then worked freelance, but from 1891 he was "the firm's preferred designer for prestigious projects". As the chapel is dedicated to St Mary, they are based on the role that women have played in the history of Christianity. Running through all the windows is a scroll containing the words of the Magnificat. On the north side are holy women from the British Isles, and on the south side are mainly saints commemorated in the Prayer Book. The Lady Chapel was damaged by bombing on 6 September 1940, and all the glass had to be replaced. The work was undertaken by James Hogan, who used simplified adaptations of the original designs. Following Hogan's death in 1948 the work was continued by Carl Edwards; the resulting windows are much brighter than the originals. The windows at the rear of the chapel and on the staircase were donated by the Girls' Friendly Society, and were designed by Brown. Known as the "Noble Women" windows, they depict women who have made major contributions to society, including Elizabeth Fry, Grace Darling, and Kitty Wilkinson.

Ambulatory and Chapter House

The four windows in the ambulatory are the only designs in the cathedral by Burlison and Grylls, each depicting two saints from a nation of the British Isles. On the steps leading to the Chapter House is the only window in the cathedral by C. E. Kempe and Company. It commemorates the Woodward family, who were local corn merchants between 1803 and 1915, and includes biblical references to corn and harvest. The Chapter House was donated by local Freemasons as a memorial to their members lost in the First World War. The windows were made by Morris & Co. and designed by Henry Dearle, reflecting the interests and traditions of the Freemasons. The windows were damaged in the Second World War and repaired by James Powell and Sons.