Doncaster Minster, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Address
The Minster Church of St George, 9 Church St, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1RDRecommended by
Highlight
East windowArtist, maker and date
Designed by John Hardman Powell and made by Hardman & Co, 1861-62Reason for highlighting
The great east window was, remarkably, exhibited in London in its entirety at the International Exhibition of 1862. Installed within the main exhibition building, this window was the largest stained glass exhibit at the exhibition, and would have been seen by visitors from all around the world.
The window comprises eight upright lights which depict the Life and Passion of Christ. It is a very good example of the gothic revival stained glass produced by High Victorian firms.
Artist/maker notes
John Hardman & Co. was founded in 1838 to manufacture ecclesiastical metal work to the designs of AWN Pugin (1812-52), who encouraged the firm’s expansion into stained glass in 1845. Pugin acted as its chief designer until his death, when he was succeeded by his nephew John Hardman Powell.
John Hardman Powell (1827-95) a deeply religious Roman Catholic, was trained as an apprentice by Pugin. A rare privilege given Pugin’s reluctance to employ clerks or take on pupils. The Hardman firm continued to flourish under his leadership, due in part to the individual attention given to commissions and the originality of each design, a contrast to other firms that would often reuse designs numerous times.
Sources:
Hardman of Birmingham, Goldsmith and Glasspainter by Michael Fisher (Landmark Publishing, 2008)
The Stained Glass of John Hardman and Company under the leadership of John Hardman Powell from 1867 to 1895 by Mathé Shepheard, which can be downloaded as a 3 volume PDF.
Other comments
The church boasts an interesting collection of Victorian stained glass from a number of major firms including a notable west window (1873) by Ward & Hughes / Curtis, Ward & Hughes, based on the medieval Tree of Jesse (1330-40) at St Mary, Merevale, Warwickshire.