Roman Catholic Church of St Albert, Stockbridge Village, Merseyside (Lancashire)
Address
Roman Catholic Church of St Albert, 31 Hollow Croft, Stockbridge Village, Merseyside L28 4EARecommended by
Highlight
Two ‘Eye-shaped’ windowsArtist, maker and date
Alfred Fisher and Chapel Studios, 1976Reason for highlighting
A striking example of the incorporation of conventional leaded stained glass into a modern building. The Church, to designs by John Black of Huddersfield, is built of white industrial brick and has a fan-shaped plan under a broad pitched-roof. The two ‘eye-shaped’ windows, in conventional leaded stained glass, are devoted to the Virgin Mary (shown opposite) and to Christ.
Artist/maker notes
Alfred Fisher MBE FMGP FRSA (b. 1933) trained at Liverpool Arts College before joining James Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd, where he developed his own distinctive style. In 1973 he co-founded Chapel Studios and worked there until retiring, mixing new work with important conservation projects. Now retired, his legacy of work can be found across the country, including Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Chequers and the Guildhall.
Source: Alfred Fisher website
Chapel Studio was established in 1973 by Alfred Fisher MBE FMGP FRSA and Peter Archer FMGP, who both had extensive knowledge of traditional craftsmanship acquired at James Powell & Sons. In 1975 Robert Holloway AMGP ACR joined the Studio, a second generation stained glass craftsman also from James Powell & Sons, bringing to the Studio his expertise on the practical side, which contributed to the establishment of the Studio in the early years, alongside the painting and design skills of Alfred Fisher and Peter Archer.
The studio continued under Robert Holloway following the retirement of Alfred Fisher and Peter Archer in 1999. Peter Campling ACR, of M. C. Lead Glaziers Ltd, bought Chapel Studio in 2016 and adopted the Chapel Studio name overall. Bob Holloway retired in 2020, and Peter Campling continues to run the company.
Source: Chapel Studio website
Other comments
The conventional stained glass windows noted above are complimented by two dalle de verre windows. (Windows made from concrete and glass). They are on either side of the altar and represent the sacraments.