Installation Nears Completion
As installation of the nativity window nears completion coloured light plays upon the adjoining altar wall for the first time.
The impressive 1950s Roman Catholic church of Christ the King in Kingstanding, one of Birmingham's northern suburbs is a church I have got to know well as a result of my latest stained glass project, to design and make two large three-light windows flanking the sanctuary, the first of which was installed in the last 2 days (march 7th / 8th 2011).
The church is a large brick building which originally had a rather spartan, barn-like interior as a result of it's brick finish, but thanks to the initiative of Fr Michael White the interior has been recently transformed and much improved by a more sympathetic plaster finish, which has lightened the interior since 2007. Another more recent developement is the church's new community centre constructed in 2009 which is now joined to the main facade on Warren Farm Road.
The church contains some fine examples of stained glass from the 1950s and 60s, principally the liturgical west window in the facade which features a bold Christ in majesty flanked by angels on a vibrant background. Glass of a similar date and style is situated in three of the side chapels and spaces that flank the main nave with busts of the Virgin & Child, St Theresa of Lisieux and St John. A smaller 1980s panel of St John the Baptist,by Tony Naylor for Norgrove Studios, was recently moved from the 'west' end to the new community hall extension.
The 'east' wall by contrast has no windows, just a flat wall with a wooden Crucifix at it's centre. My new window of the Nativity has just been installed immediately to the right, to be complimented by a Creation themed window on the corresponding position to the left.
For more detail on my work here see my website via the following link:-
aidanmcraethomsonstainedglass.weebly.com/christ-the-king-...
Installation Nears Completion
As installation of the nativity window nears completion coloured light plays upon the adjoining altar wall for the first time.
The impressive 1950s Roman Catholic church of Christ the King in Kingstanding, one of Birmingham's northern suburbs is a church I have got to know well as a result of my latest stained glass project, to design and make two large three-light windows flanking the sanctuary, the first of which was installed in the last 2 days (march 7th / 8th 2011).
The church is a large brick building which originally had a rather spartan, barn-like interior as a result of it's brick finish, but thanks to the initiative of Fr Michael White the interior has been recently transformed and much improved by a more sympathetic plaster finish, which has lightened the interior since 2007. Another more recent developement is the church's new community centre constructed in 2009 which is now joined to the main facade on Warren Farm Road.
The church contains some fine examples of stained glass from the 1950s and 60s, principally the liturgical west window in the facade which features a bold Christ in majesty flanked by angels on a vibrant background. Glass of a similar date and style is situated in three of the side chapels and spaces that flank the main nave with busts of the Virgin & Child, St Theresa of Lisieux and St John. A smaller 1980s panel of St John the Baptist,by Tony Naylor for Norgrove Studios, was recently moved from the 'west' end to the new community hall extension.
The 'east' wall by contrast has no windows, just a flat wall with a wooden Crucifix at it's centre. My new window of the Nativity has just been installed immediately to the right, to be complimented by a Creation themed window on the corresponding position to the left.
For more detail on my work here see my website via the following link:-
aidanmcraethomsonstainedglass.weebly.com/christ-the-king-...