Salisbury Cathedral restores stained-glass treasure by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris | Art
S.Kelly admitted he had some sleepless nights while leading a two-year project to restore one of Salisbury Cathedral’s treasures, a stained glass window by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris.
“It would be wrong to say that I don’t sometimes lie awake,” said the head glazier. “You’re working on something very valuable, and it would be very bad if it fell to the ground.”
Fortunately, the 6.5 meters (21 ft) tall “Angels” window did not hit the ground. The restoration has been met with great success, and this week the artwork will be celebrated and rededicated at an evening song ceremony.
The window was designed by the pre-Raphaelite artist Burne-Jones and the textile artist and poet Morris in the late 19th century.
Over the past century and a half, water ingress, condensation and deterioration of many of the painted details led to the need for restoration.
The first task in February 2024 was to safely lift the large, heavy window from its position above the south aisle, said Kelly, who started as an apprentice at the cathedral 40 years ago and now oversees the maintenance of all the stained-glass windows. “It wasn’t very stable and you had to be a little careful not to do more damage,” he said.
Once the window arrived safely at the on-site workshop, it was carefully documented, partly to plan the restoration program but also as a record so that future custodians of the cathedral’s windows would know exactly what work had been done.
The window shows:angel ministers” And “Angeli LaudanteS.” – serving and praising the angels. Burne-Jones designed the angels, Morris designed the decorative leaf design.
Kelly and colleagues Vicky Pearce, Kate Kersey and Alfie Durrant carefully cleaned the glass to help restore the original colours. “That made it shine brighter,” Kelly said.
Referencing Burne-Jones’s chalk design, they repaired the lost details on the 2mm thick “back glass” rather than adding anything to the original surface. “Nothing has been done to the original glass other than light cleaning,” Kelly said. “All additional details are on the rear window.”
Protective glass and oak frames were added to prevent further deterioration.
Kelly said he was pleased with the results. “We have learned a lot about the history and application of this window and it is gratifying to know that the work we have carried out will enable future generations to enjoy it.”
The Rev. Nicholas Papadopoulos, Dean of Salisbury, praised the restoration project. “Through their painstaking work, the team has restored the lines, clarity and color of this 19th-century masterpiece.
“We are proud that the art has been preserved and enhanced with contemporary skill. The sunlight will once again illuminate Burne-Jones’ angels, and their beauty will lift our spirits and rekindle our hope for many years to come,” he said.
The window can be seen in the south aisle and will be rededicated at evensong on May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
