Looking through the (Stained) Glass
By Barry Richardson
The title might suggest a third book to join Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass—but I am merely borrowing that allegory to explore the luminous world of stained glass at St Mary’s and look at some of the outcome of works undertaken.
The Re-Awakening project is offering once-in-a-generation opportunities: to watch craftspeople create brand new works (like the Magnus Room, the café and toilets), and to see others painstakingly restore fabrics and materials that have graced St Mary’s for centuries.
Clerestory windows above the choir flood light into the unlit choir below on a very overcast November day - much as the church would have been prior to the addition of electricity.
Why “Stained” Glass?
The term has always puzzled me. We certainly don’t want stained clothes, so why is this artform saddled with such a word? It seems to dismiss the care, painting skill, and resulting rich illumination that make these windows intimate, vibrant interpretations of Biblical events, memorials, and tributes to saints and benefactors.
The historical reason, however, is wonderfully simple—if a touch technical. It all comes down to silver nitrate and kilns first used in the 14th century:
Silver nitrate was painted onto the glass surface.
The glass was then fired in a kiln.
Heat fused the stain to the glass, turning it a glorious yellow-orange, from the faintest hint of lemon to a deep, rich gold.
Applied to blue glass, it could produce brilliant greens and turquoises, enriching skies and landscapes.
This innovation meant less lead was needed, as fine detail could be painted directly onto the glass—facial features, halos, folds of clothing. Artists suddenly had a broader canvas, able to create larger, more intricate scenes with dazzling realism.
The picture above shows the shadowing and rich detail across the wide colour palette - this detail is often lost as we look up from the ground at the detail of the scene rather than individual panels (Picture credit: Ark Stained Glass)
Getting Up Close
That technical leap centuries ago is now meeting the modern miracle of restoration. One of the greatest perks of being amidst the Re-Awakening is the chance to get close to windows—often for the first time in generations.
Separated from the overwhelming scale of the whole, you begin to notice rich, intimate detail: brushstrokes, expressions, and textures that otherwise vanish into the grand vista.
For those wanting a reminder of the glass at St Mary's, the Southwell and Nottingham Church History Project website has large pictures of the glass of St Mary's - an online treasure trove in its own right.
In the photo above you can clearly see the decades of grime being carefully removed from glass, revealing a purity of light - exactly as the artist would have wanted (Picture credit: Ark Stained Glass)
A Flood of Light
Entering via the Vestry. The immediate experience upon stepping inside is breathtaking: a flood of natural light pouring down from the clerestory windows above the choir.
These windows have been carefully cleaned and, in some cases, repaired. They now cast a warm, golden glow over the space. Previously, decades of algae and grime dulled the light, muting the colours. See the earlier picture which hardly does it justice, as those that have visited the church recently will know.
Other more intimate and detailed panels have been restored too, Now, thanks to meticulous re-leading where needed, careful cleaning, and restorative works, the panels gleam with renewed vibrancy. Their colours sing again, alive with detail and brilliance.
The picture above shows the wide colour palette with detail oozing (Picture credit: Ark Stained Glass)
Towards Re-Awakening
Every restored pane is another thrilling nod towards the Re-Awakening moment, when this medieval showcase will re-open to visitors and congregation alike.
Next week I will concentrate on the progress of the new additions to St Marys as they nudge ever-nearer to completion.
I left St Marys knowing that the finishing line is clearly within sight—and with it, the promise of St Mary’s renewed brilliance.