Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Merseyside (Lancashire)
Address
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TQTheme
Overview
The cathedral’s reputation for stained glass is dominated by the outstanding work of John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens. However, there is work by others in the various chapels. Particularly interesting is the Blessed Sacrament chapel, where the glass by Ceri Richards (1966) was conceived as a whole with Richard’s reredos, and the Lady Chapel (1967), with Margaret Traherne’s subtle use of colour.
Outside, Raphael Seitz’s 8 glass monoliths (2010) are a dramatic addition.
Highlight
Complete schemeArtist, maker and date
Designed by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens, and made by Patrick Reyntiens, 1965-7Reason for highlighting
A remarkable tour-de-force of great vision. The central nave is surrounded by 70 foot high panels of predominantly blue, dalle de verre panels that bring a unity to the design and lead the eye to the central lantern. The theme for the lantern is the Holy Trinity, symbolised by bright light within areas of red, blue and yellow glass. The whole handled with great subtlety and flare.
Artist/maker notes
John Egerton Christmas Piper CH (1903–92) was one of Britain’s leading artists, who worked in a variety of media. He began working in stained glass in partnership with Patrick Reyntiens, whom he had met through John and Penelope Betjeman, in 1954.
Sources:
John Piper and Stained Glass by June Osborne (Sutton Publishing, 1997) which includes the text of John Piper’s book Stained Glass: art or anti-art (Studio Vista, 1968)
John Piper on Wikipedia
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 Baptistery 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)
Comments by
Peter Hildebrand