Manchester Cathedral - Stained Glass
Manchester Cathedral.
St Mary Window, 1980.
By Antony Hollaway (1928-2000).
In 1963 the stained glass designer and craftsman Tony Hollaway was introduced to the Manchester architect, Harry Fairhurst. Eight years later, after they had worked together on commissions in Cheshire and Liverpool, Fairhurst sought Tony's advice about a plan for five large stained-glass windows in Manchester Cathedral.
Thus was Tony asked to design and make the first window, the St George in the inner south-west aisle. It was completed in 1973. Further windows followed in 1976 and 1980 and the final window, Revelation was installed in 1995.
Detail: The St Mary Window. Designed by Antony Hollaway, 1980. (This is in the Tower.)
The circle, which dominates the window, is the ancient Christian symbol of perfection. It is marred by the death of Jesus in the form of a shart of leight or the sword. This is a direct reference to the prohecy of Simeon to the Blessed Virgin at the time of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. (“A sword shall piee through your own Soul also”. Luke 2: 35).
This destoryed the perfection of the circle which is compensated for visually the the arcs of red and yellow. “And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven: a women clother with the sun, the moon under her feet …” (Revelation 12:1). These radii restore the symmetry required for formal and design purposes.
These are seven shades of blue within the circle, blue being a colour traditionally associated with St Mary the Virgin. The circle contains a serpent. This is a multiple image best understood under the following headings:
The circle placed upon these blocks of colour are letter forms both upper and lower case which are essentially to create a pattern. However, they may be re-assembled to read verses from the Magnificate: left to right. The act of re-assembling the letters is intended to concentrate the mine on the text which would not necessarily result from ‘easy reading’.
The above details are intended to present:
1. A suitable light modulation for this part of the building.
2. A relationship with the two adjoining windows.
3. A monumentality and dignity appropriate to the Architecture and to the special place of this window in the Scheme, and of the Virgin Mary among the Patron Saints of the Cathedral.
All the teaching elements of the window are subordinate to the formal design requirements expressed in (3).
Manchester Cathedral - Stained Glass
Manchester Cathedral.
St Mary Window, 1980.
By Antony Hollaway (1928-2000).
In 1963 the stained glass designer and craftsman Tony Hollaway was introduced to the Manchester architect, Harry Fairhurst. Eight years later, after they had worked together on commissions in Cheshire and Liverpool, Fairhurst sought Tony's advice about a plan for five large stained-glass windows in Manchester Cathedral.
Thus was Tony asked to design and make the first window, the St George in the inner south-west aisle. It was completed in 1973. Further windows followed in 1976 and 1980 and the final window, Revelation was installed in 1995.
Detail: The St Mary Window. Designed by Antony Hollaway, 1980. (This is in the Tower.)
The circle, which dominates the window, is the ancient Christian symbol of perfection. It is marred by the death of Jesus in the form of a shart of leight or the sword. This is a direct reference to the prohecy of Simeon to the Blessed Virgin at the time of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. (“A sword shall piee through your own Soul also”. Luke 2: 35).
This destoryed the perfection of the circle which is compensated for visually the the arcs of red and yellow. “And there appeared a great wonder in Heaven: a women clother with the sun, the moon under her feet …” (Revelation 12:1). These radii restore the symmetry required for formal and design purposes.
These are seven shades of blue within the circle, blue being a colour traditionally associated with St Mary the Virgin. The circle contains a serpent. This is a multiple image best understood under the following headings:
The circle placed upon these blocks of colour are letter forms both upper and lower case which are essentially to create a pattern. However, they may be re-assembled to read verses from the Magnificate: left to right. The act of re-assembling the letters is intended to concentrate the mine on the text which would not necessarily result from ‘easy reading’.
The above details are intended to present:
1. A suitable light modulation for this part of the building.
2. A relationship with the two adjoining windows.
3. A monumentality and dignity appropriate to the Architecture and to the special place of this window in the Scheme, and of the Virgin Mary among the Patron Saints of the Cathedral.
All the teaching elements of the window are subordinate to the formal design requirements expressed in (3).