Apse Windows, Westminster Abbey
The original glazing of Henry VII's lady chapel was lost long ago to iconoclasm (and the few remaining elements in the traceries were sadly lost to wartime bombing), thus the chapel has long been plain-glazed. At the turn of the Millennium it was decided to reintroduce colour to the three principal windows of the apse and various high profile artists were invited to submit designs with Alan Younger being chosen as the winner.
Tragically however Alan Younger died shortly after the central window was completed leaving the project only partially realised. The Abbey then opted for a new approach rather than to attempt to find another artist to interpret Younger's designs.and Hughie O'Donghue's broadly heraldic designs in blue and white were interpreted in glass by the Barley Studio. I find the individual windows highly appealing though am still not entirely convinced the blue and white chequerboard effect works as a cohesive whole alongside the rich warm tones and intense detail of Younger's window, I feel they contrast more than complement.
Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in a curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendicular, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it, no other church contains so many monuments.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. It currently has more limited opening hours in the post-Covid recovery period and entry is not cheap, but happily after decades of a strict prohibition against photographers the rules have now been relaxed at last and visitors are now welcome to fully enjoy this marvellous building with their cameras!
For further details (and restrictions) see below:-
Apse Windows, Westminster Abbey
The original glazing of Henry VII's lady chapel was lost long ago to iconoclasm (and the few remaining elements in the traceries were sadly lost to wartime bombing), thus the chapel has long been plain-glazed. At the turn of the Millennium it was decided to reintroduce colour to the three principal windows of the apse and various high profile artists were invited to submit designs with Alan Younger being chosen as the winner.
Tragically however Alan Younger died shortly after the central window was completed leaving the project only partially realised. The Abbey then opted for a new approach rather than to attempt to find another artist to interpret Younger's designs.and Hughie O'Donghue's broadly heraldic designs in blue and white were interpreted in glass by the Barley Studio. I find the individual windows highly appealing though am still not entirely convinced the blue and white chequerboard effect works as a cohesive whole alongside the rich warm tones and intense detail of Younger's window, I feel they contrast more than complement.
Westminster Abbey is perhaps the most significant church in English History, site of the coronation of monarchs since it was founded by Edward the Confessor, and burial place of the majority of them, along with many other historical figures of note. It is first and foremost a superlative work of medieval architecture, from its soaring 13th-14th century nave, transepts and choir (all in a curiously French inspired version of Decorated Gothic) to the masterpiece of English Perpendicular, the incredibly lacy fan-vaulted Henry VII's chapel at the east end.
The Abbey is also a treasure house of ecclesiastical art, most of it monumental sculpture on the numerous tombs and effigies of almost every date ranging from the entire medieval period through to the 20th century; a somewhat cluttered interior, crammed full of interest, there is simply nothing else quite like it, no other church contains so many monuments.
The Abbey's monastic ranges partially survive, most notably the cloisters and superb chapter house; a short summary of the Abbey's riches is simply impossible. The monastery itself was shut down during the Dissolution, after which the Abbey briefly became a cathedral until its diocesan rank was revoked merely a decade later. Today it is designated a 'Royal Peculiar' owing to its unique status.
The Abbey is a textbook in stone of British history, and thus a hugely popular tourist attraction. It currently has more limited opening hours in the post-Covid recovery period and entry is not cheap, but happily after decades of a strict prohibition against photographers the rules have now been relaxed at last and visitors are now welcome to fully enjoy this marvellous building with their cameras!
For further details (and restrictions) see below:-