Swansea Minster
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Swansea Minster, St Mary’s Square, Swansea, SA1 3LPRecommended by
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West windowArtist, maker and date
Martin Donlin, 2001Reason for highlighting
A dramatic west window, from one of the greats of contemporary stained glass. It was inspired by the themes of justice, reconciliation, peace, hope, regeneration and renewal.
Artist/maker notes
Martin Donlin (b.1959) was born in Hockley, Essex to Irish immigrant parents and studied Architectural Stained Glass in Swansea, South Wales from 1984 to 1987.
The majority of the projects he produces are intended to work on a variety of levels, with bold images for impact yet containing small intricate details to be seen close up. His intention is to create artworks that are welcoming and accessible and do not alienate visitors or locals, but have a sensitivity and relevance to their environment. They are usually a direct response to the architecture and surroundings.
Source: Martin Donlin website
Other comments
The church is a showcase of important works by the students and staff of the stained glass course at Swansea from the 1980s and 1990s. Particularly notable are the Butterfly windows in the north wall of the north aisle by Kuni Kajiwara (1981), the only British work by this Japanese artist, an early window made by Tim Lewis’ Glantawe Studios, and Rodney Bender’s Welsh Guards Falklands Memorial window (1985).
The ‘Swansea work’ is preceded by windows by James Powell & Sons (1958–60), John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens (1965) and Chapel Studio (1978).
A Swansea alumni, Colwyn Morris, who had work with Liddall Armitage on the Powell windows in the 1950s, return in 1994 to design his own windows.
Another one of the Swansea Alumni, Catrin Jones, has windows either side of the west door, and further windows a short walk away at the Priory Church of St David, Swansea.
In 2026 The Minster’s important collection of stained glass was enhanced with the launch of a new permanent exhibition of stained glass panels from the archive of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art.
Further reading and information:
Stained Glass from Welsh Churches by Martin Crampin (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014)
Stained Glass in Wales – St Mary’s, Swansea
Stained Glass in Wales – Priory Church of St David, Swansea
Swansea Stained Glass Archive
Also to be seen at the Minster is a splendid painting, Deposition (1958), by Ceri Richards. More details can be seen on Art+Christianity’s Ecclesiart web pages, which raise awareness of significant works of modern and contemporary art since 1920 in UK churches and cathedrals.