New Laigh Kirk, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire
Address
New Laigh Kirk, John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock , KA1 1BLRecommended by
Highlight
Two upper windows to the left and right of the platformArtist, maker and date
J. T. Stewart, C.E. Stewart & J.S. Melville and William Meikle and Sons, installed April 1904Reason for highlighting
These are the first two of a total of five windows made by Meikle & Sons for the church between 1904 and 1906. This scheme of what appears to be stained glass is actually acid etched flashed glass. John Tytler Stewart, along with John Stark Melville and Stewart’s son Charles Edward Stewart, had developed this style of creating detail on the glass using hydrofluoric acid, thus eliminating glass paint, and named it the ‘Cameo Process’. This full scheme of glass has been made in this way. They are rare and I would put these windows of high historical, and artistic value. Fantastic examples of Arts and Crafts design.
There is an article on the ‘Cameo Process’ by Charlotte Roden in the online magazine, Vidimus.
Artist/maker notes
William Meikle and Sons was one of the leading Glasgow firms of stained glass makers. The The business was founded in 1838 by William Meikle Senior (c. 1818–1900) as wholesale glass merchants and glaziers, and only started making in stained glass in 1886. Both William Meikle’s sons apprenticed in the Stephen Adam Studio, before joining the firm, which became one of the main competitors to Guthries. Also important was the arrival in the 1895 of John Tytler Stewart (1858-1930) as principal designer. Subsequent studio designers included John Stark Melville, Charles Edward Stewart and Andrew Rigby Gray.
John Tytler Stewart (1858-1930) initially apprenticed and worked as a decorator, during which time he attended night classes at Glasgow School of Art. After a period in London, where he was on visiting terms with Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and Walter Crane, and failed attempts to establish his own studio, he joined William Meikle & Sons in 1895, becoming their principal designer. His time with the firm was notable for his work on developing the technique of acid etching with John Stark Melville and his son, Charles Edward Stewart. In 1907 he and his son left to form their own studio, J. T. & C. E. Stewart. Their studio finally closed on Charles’ retirement in 1960.
Charles Edward Stewart (1885–1974) was the son of John Tytler Stewart (1858-1930) and became his father’s assistant and apprentice at William Meikle & Sons. In 1907 they left to form their own studio, J. T. & C. E. Stewart, which finally closed on Charles’ retirement in 1960.
John Stark Melville (1865 – 1946) was born in Glasgow and attended the Glasgow School of Art in 1881-2. He joined William Meikle & Sons as an apprentice and spent some time working as an improver with Christopher Whall before returning to the firm in about 1898. Melville left Meikle’s to join Oscar Paterson, becoming Paterson’s chief assistant and partner in 1911. After a nine year association Melville left to go to the United States, where in 1913 he joined Tiffany Studios in New York City. Finally, in 1922 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for Judson Studios in Highland Park.
Sources:
Scotland’s Stained Glass Making the Colours Sing by Michael Donnelly (Historic Scotland, 1977)
200 Scottish Stained Glass Artists by Rona H Moody in The Journal of Stained Glass Scotland Issue Vol XXX (2006)
askArt.com
Other comments
Below the above at the lower level, and again either side of the platform, are two windows by Norman MacDougall, also installed in April 1904. They are flanked to left and right by two more of the Meikle windows, this time signed by John Tytler Stewart alone, and installed in December 1904 and 1905 respectively. The final Meikle window is on the far right of the upper level and is signed by both John Tytler Stewart and Charles Edward Stewart.
The glazing of the wall’s eight window openings is completed by a window on the far left of the upper level by Alexander Whelan, 1973, on the theme of St Andrew.
Also look out for a fine 2002 window by Susan Bradbury entitled ‘New Beginnings’ in the entrance to the Kirk. The latest of three windows she designed for the kirk.
While in the town it is well-worth calling to arrange a visit to the Old High Kirk in Church Street, which is now owned by the Kilmarnock and District Independent Funeral Service. It has a complete scheme of some 20 windows installed over a number of years by W. & J. J. Kier.