Detail of Stained Glass. The stained glass windows in Durham Cathedral are a medley of styles, depending on when they were created, and in most cases, redesigned, to replace destroyed originals. Plainer windows such as these are responsible for the infiltration of the most light into the building.

The stained glass windows in Durham Cathedral are a medley of styles, depending on when they were created, and, in most cases, redesigned to replace destroyed originals. Plainer windows such as these are responsible for the infiltration of the most light into the building.

© Michael Sadgrove

Detail of Stained Glass

The stained glass in Durham Cathedral varies considerably in date, although most is from the 19th century. Some medieval glass from Durham Cathedral still survives in the building, other fragments were acquired through purchase.

The disappearance of most of the Cathedral’s medieval stained glass is because much of it was destroyed by iconoclasts during the Reformation (they considered the depiction of saints blasphemous). The English Civil War, in the mid seventeenth century, did not help, and probably led to further destruction.

The Rose Window

Originally glazed in the 15th century by Richard Pickering, the present glass dates from the late nineteenth century, and depicts Christ surrounded by the apostles, in turn surrounded by the 24 elders from Revelation.

The 15th century glass was removed in the late eighteenth century by James Wyatt, an architect nicknamed the destroyer for his heavy-handed interventions in the Cathedral.

In the surrounding windows, some of Durham’s key bishops are depicted, including the first Prince Bishops, St Calais and Flambard, and Van Mildert, the last. 

 

For more information, refer to The Stained Glass of Durham Cathedral, By Roger Norris  (Jarold 2001).

© Durham Cathedral and Jarold Printing

You are in: Home » Learn » Architecture » Durham Cathedral » Areas of Interest » Stained Glass