Church of All Saints, Hereford, Herefordshire
Address
Church of All Saints, High St, Hereford HR4 9AATheme
Overview
The cousins Margaret Agnes Rope (1882-1953) of Shrewsbury (professional name: Margaret Rope, later Sister Margaret of the Mother of God) and Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope (1891-1988) of Leiston (professional name M E A Rope or M E Aldrich Rope) were prominent international stained-glass artists in the Arts & Crafts idiom. Their work can be seen in many churches and other buildings in England, Scotland and Wales as well as in Australia, Italy, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and the USA.
Although their lives and styles diverged, they worked together at the start of their careers and again right at the end of the elder Margaret’s life.
Highlight
Collection of seven windows - two large, two medium and three smallArtist, maker and date
M.E. Aldrich Rope, 1933-51Reason for highlighting
Major windows by this artist giving a clear presentation of her style and approach: strong design and plainer depiction than her cousin.
Artist/maker notes
Margaret Edith Aldrich Rope (1891-1988) was born in Suffolk and studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Central School of Arts & Crafts, where she specialised in stained glass under Karl Parsons and Alfred J Drury. More prolific but less intense than her cousin, her style evolved considerably during her career, from one somewhat similar to her cousin’s to something plainer and more impressionistic.
Further reading:
The Margaret Rope Stained Glass website
Margaret Rope of Leiston: Arts and Crafts Stained Glass Artist by Arthur Rope (Blurb, 2017)
Other comments
Church open during day, accommodating a café and other facilities