Bristol Cathedral

Address

Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TJ

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

The stained glass in the Cathedral demonstrates how church art often reflects rebirth after loss, and examples of two very different disruptions are reflected in the choir and the nave. The north choir aisle has a fine example of enamelled glass from the 1660s, erected following the Restoration of the monarchy, while a number of nave windows were replaced by A. W. Robinson after World War Two with windows depicting those who contributed on the home front. Indeed, the building itself is a demonstration of this idea, with its important mediaeval eastern parts and its 19th century nave by the great G. E. Street.

A. W. Robinson was the owner of Joseph Bell & Sons of Bristol, who in the 19th century restored and repaired the windows of the Lady Chapel, incorporating some pieces of 14th century glass. Also of the 19th century is the fine west rose window by John Hardman & Co, 1877.

Highlight

East window of the south choir aisle

Artist, maker and date

Keith New, 1965

Reason for highlighting

This post-war window (1965) is a fabulously arresting display of colour and movement by Keith New, on the theme of the Holy spirit and the Pentecostal fire.

Artist/maker notes

Keith New (1926-2012) was a pioneering British modernist stained glass artist. His career was launched by the 1952 Royal College of Art commission to design the windows for Coventry Cathedral. He is widely recognised as a skilful colourist and innovator in stained glass, particularly in glass appliqué.

Source: Keith New, British Modernist in Stained Glass by Diana Coulter and Robert Smith (Sansom & Company, 2018)