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St William Window restored!
Published: on 30th May 2007 by Alix Peacock in Press Releases
The St William Window in York Minster, one of the most important pieces of medieval stained glass in the world, has now been superbly restored. The Dean and Chapter of York will celebrate the completion of the work with a series of events timed to coincide with St William’s Day on 8th June.
The window depicts the miracles of St William of York, including what is said to be St William’s only miracle during his lifetime: when St William returned triumphantly to York, a crowd gathered on the wooden Ouse Bridge, the bridge collapsed under the strain of the crowd, but no one was hurt as St William blessed the crowd. It also depicts a blind man Ralph who lost his eyes and sight during trial by combat finding his eyes again at the tomb of St William.
The window has been hidden from view for ten years. Dr Christopher Norton has undertaken extensive research and the panels have been worked on by the skilled craftspeople of the York Glaziers Trust. Over the centuries the window has been mended many times, using lead that has gradually obscured the beauty of the window. Now, the skills of the York Glaziers Trust have been used to remove many of those heavy lines to show the window much as it was when it was new in the early 15th Century. The research and new techniques have been ground-breaking and will prove invaluable as the Dean and Chapter of York prepare to restore York Minster’s Great East Window: the largest expanse of medieval Glass in the world.
The Very Rev’d Keith Jones, Dean of York said: “This is an epoch in the art of conservation. As we celebrate this achievement, we shall position the altar during the festivities where it once stood between the St William and St Cuthbert Windows, and so catch something of the original layout of the Minster. The huge window as restored is amazing, and sets the scene for the even greater challenge of the east window. It shows what we can do!”
On both Thursday 7th and Friday 8th June the Dean and Chapter of York shall hold solemn Evensongs (to which everyone is of course welcome). At 7.00pm on the 7th, Dr Christopher Norton will give a lecture in the Tempest Anderson Hall entitled The St William Window unveiled: the rediscovery of a medieval masterpiece. Tickets for the lecture are free and available from the Development Office on 01904 557245. The evensong on Friday 8th will be held in the Nave and among those attending will be people who have donated generously to the restoration of the St William Window.
Notes to the Media
The St William Window was almost certainly finished in 1414. It is a huge expanse of glass in the North Quire Aisle of York Minster. The window illustrates in pictures the miracles of St William; William Fitzherbert who was Treasurer of York Minster between 1112 and 1114. William was then consecrated Archbishop of York in 1143, deposed in 1147 and then reinstated in 1154. He died the same year. The cult of St William grew during the 1200s as pilgrims visited his tomb and reported miraculous healings.