Ceri Richards and Patrick Reyntiens, south aisle east window (1965). Derby Cathedral.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Ceri Richards and Patrick Reyntiens, north aisle east window (1965). Derby Cathedral.

Photo: Peter Hildebrand

Derby Cathedral, Derbyshire

Address

Cathedral Church of All Saints, 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

The main body of the church was constructed at the beginning of the eighteenth century when the preference was for clear glass, and so it has largely remained, despite the old parish church being raised to cathedral status at the beginning of the twentieth century. An exception was a large memorial window to Prince Albert installed at the east end of the church in 1862, but it was removed as part of the Cathedral extension of 1968-72.

A contrasting approach to the question of church and stained glass design, can be seen by walking four minutes to the north, to St Mary’s Roman Catholic church. The church of 1838-39 is one of the first churches designed by A. W. N. Pugin, and the stained glass is by Hardmans to designs by John Hardman Powell and his son Dunstan Powell.

Highlight

Windows at the east end of both the north and south aisles.

Artist, maker and date

Reason for highlighting

Two exciting abstract windows that take as their theme the ‘ancient struggle between night and day’. The darker north window represents the dark force – All Souls, while the lighter south window represents the triumph of light over darkness – All Saints. The windows have also been highlighted 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.

Artist/maker notes

Ceri Giraldus Richards CBE (1903-71) is acknowledged as Wales’ most important artist of the mid-twentieth century. He was born in Dunvant and studied at the local Swansea School of Art (1921-4), before winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art (1924-7).

In the 1930s, Richards made an important contribution to Surrealism, while throughout his life the arts of music (he was excellent pianist with a particular admiration for Debussy) and poetry greatly influenced his work. In Wales he is particularly known for his paintings, drawings and prints based on the poetry of Dylan Thomas. There is also excellent glass and associated art-works by Richards in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, better known for its many windows by John Piper.

Sources:
BBC Wales – Ceri Richards
Ceri Richards by Mel Gooding (Cameron & Hollis, 2002)

Patrick Reyntiens OBE (1925-2021) studied fine art at Edinburgh College of Art. He began his career in stained glass with an apprenticeship with Eddie Nuttgens, and flourished when he met and collaborated with John Piper.

Together they redefined the medium in the post war era, working on the Baptistry Window, Coventry Cathedral and Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral as well as numerous ecclesiastical and secular commissions in Britain and USA.

He has also been an influential teacher both through the arts centre he ran at Burleighfield House, with his wife, Anne Bruce, from 1963 to 1976, and through the 10 years he spent as Head of Fine Art at the Central School of Art and Design.

Sources:
Patrick Reyntiens website
From Coventry to Cochem: The Art of Patrick Reyntiens, DVD, Reyntiens Glass Studio
Patrick Reyntiens Catalogue of Stained Glass by Libby Horner (Sansom &Co, 2013)