Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire

Address

Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Minster Place, Ely CB7 4DL

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

An exceptionally rich collection of largely 19th century glass. A notable window with earlier glass is the Great West Window, which predominantly consists of 16th century French glass presented to the cathedral in 1807.

There is a beautiful counterpoint between the often highly coloured 19th century glass and the glazing of the new Processional Way (2000) linking the main body of the cathedral to the Lady Chapel. Based on geometric principles, and glazed in the tints and colours of the 14th century, it was designed by Helen Whittaker and made by Barley Studio.

The cathedral is also home to the stunning collection of the Stained Glass Museum. Britain’s only museum dedicated to stained glass.

Highlight

Penultimate window going east along the north aisle – the Jonah window

Artist, maker and date

George Hedgeland, 1858

Reason for highlighting

Towards the east end of the north nave is a fine window (No.27 in the guide book) by George Hedgeland on the subject of Jonah preaching to the people of Nineveh. Highly regarded in his day, Hedgeland’s career lasted barely a dozen years before poor health forced him to stop working. As a result there are relatively few examples of his work extant today, but all are worth seeking out.

Artist/maker notes

George Caleb Hedgeland (1825-98) was the son of John Pike Hedgeland, the architect and later stained glass artist, who worked on the restoration of the medieval windows at St Neot, Cornwall. Hedgeland was admitted to the Royal Academy as an artist in 1845 and probably learned the art of stained glass from his father. He achieved considerable success in the 1850s, exhibiting at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and rising to prominence as the designer of the Great West window at Norwich Cathedral (1853).

Unfortunately ill-health curtailed his career in England and he emigrated to Australia in 1859. There is no evidence that he worked again in stained glass. His short career and the change of taste in stained glass that took place in the latter part of the century, resulting in Hedgeland fading from view, but his talents and bold pictorial style deserve a wider recognition.

Source: George Hedgeland: one life – in two parts by Angela Phippen posted on glaas inc research

Note: As a result of Angela Phippen’s investigation into the life of George Hedgeland, his descendants were encouraged to place his surviving works on paper into repositories where they could be conserved and potentially used by other researchers, including the Stained Glass Museum at Ely.

Highlighted dates at this location

1858 (Go to date search)