Pre-Raphaelite stained glass window restored

A two-year restoration project has been completed on a stained glass window designed by Pre-Raphaelite artists William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.

The window, which is 21ft (6.5 metre) high, was removed from Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire in February 2024 ahead of work to fix water and condensation damage.

It has now been returned to the cathedral ahead of being re-dedicated at an Evensong service on 7 May.

Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, said the "painstaking work" means the window "will lift our spirits and rekindle our hope for many more years".

Original chalk drawings were used for reference as conservation teams delicately enhanced missing painting details and tended to the window.

Thick iron bars were also replaced and protective glazing and oak frames now shield the window against future deterioration.

The conservation work cost £120,000 in total.

Head glazier Sam Kelly worked alongside Vicky Pearce, Kate Kersey and Alfie Durrant on the project.

"This has been a challenging project for all of us," he said. "But one that has given us the opportunity of being up close and personal with this very special work of art.

"We have learned a lot about the history and execution of this window during the conservation process.

"It is pleasing to know that the work we have carried out will now allow the window to be enjoyed by generations to come."

The window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones, one of the last Pre-Raphaelites, and William Morris - a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts in the 1800s.

Known as the 'Angels' window, it was commissioned as a memorial to Captain George Townsend by his sister Barbara, an artist who lived at Mompesson House in the Cathedral Close.

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