Manchester Cathedral (Lancashire)

Address

Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Mary, St Denys and St George, Victoria St, Manchester M3 1SX

Theme

Anglican Cathedrals in England (43)

Comments by

Peter Hildebrand

Overview

An exceptional collection of late 20th century and early 21st century windows commissioned over many years. The windows have their genesis in the cathedral’s enlightened decision in 1970 to commission an overall scheme of reglazing.

Central to the reglazing are five stunning west windows by Tony Hollaway, completed between 1972 and 1995. The windows were wonderfully summarised by Keith New in his obituary article for Tony Hollaway in The Guardian; “This series is a remarkable, sustained achievement. Their world of colour and form goes beyond abstraction to describe, in some purely ineffable way, the spiritual life.”

Hollaway’s windows were preceded in 1966 by a magnificent Fire Window at the east end of the Regimental Chapel, by Margaret Traherne. It commemorated the rebuilding of the cathedral after the war. It was then itself damaged and restored following the IRA central Manchester bomb in 1996.

The broader restoration of the cathedral following the bombing is remembered in the Healing Window above the east porch by Linda Hadfield (formerly Walton), 2004.

Highlight

Hope window

Artist, maker and date

Alan Davis, 2016

Reason for highlighting

The reglazing of the east and west ends was completed in 2016 with the installation of the Hope Window by Alan Davis. Although described as abstract the window is full of meaning, such as the tilted cross in the centre of the window that symbolises Christ’s final journey, and the pattern of woven fabric, that relates both to the local textile industries and to the concept of God as ‘weaver’ of the universe .

Artist/maker notes

Alan Davis graduated from the University of Sunderland with a first class degree in art & design specialising in architectural glass art in 1997 and began working as a professional glass artist. His work can be found in churches and cathedrals across the country, as well as in private buildings.

Davis’s work is greatly influenced by the textural qualities found in nature or the natural erosion of manmade structures and objects. His personal work leans towards the slightly surreal or semi-abstract.

Source: Alan Davis website

Highlighted dates at this location

2016 (Go to date search)