THE STAINED GLASS
OF TWO YORK CHURCHES
A GUIDED WALK

Tuesday 10 August 2010
The Churches of St Denys
and St Martin-le-Grand

This walk will be to the Churches of St Denys, Walmgate and St Martin-le-Grand, Coney Street. The walk will be guided by Phil Thomas and Keith Barley, members of the Stained Glass Trust who between them are expert in both the art and conservation of stained glass.

The walk is scheduled to last approximately two hours, starting at 5.30 pm at the entrance to St Denys. The cost of the walk will be £6 payable on the day.

Please note that a donation will be made to the churches funds.

NOTES ON THE CHURCHES TO BE VISITED

1 St Denys, Walmgate
Originally founded in the 12th century, the present church is only a modest fragment of its much larger predecessor, which was long associated with the great Percy family and was badly damaged in the siege of York. The nave was demolished in the 18th century, when the Norman south doorway was moved to its present position, and the former crossing tower was pulled down and a new west tower built in the early-19th century. Very important glass survives from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, including parts of a Jesse window and a radiant life of St Catherine.

2 St Martin-le-Grand
The large late-mediaeval town church was severely damaged by bombing in the Second World War. The surviving fragments (chiefly the south-west tower and south aisle) were magnificently and movingly re-invented in a new context by George Pace in the 1960s. Without doubt it is a masterpiece, with one of the finest interiors of its date in Britain. Fortunately, the superb early-15th century window showing the life of St Martin has survived, and there is a fine 1965 window by Harry Stammers – founder of the modern ‘York School’ of stained glass.

MEMBERS OF THE YORK STAINED GLASS TRUST

Keith Barley is Master Glazier to Ely Cathedral, conservation advisor to the Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi (CVMA) of Great Britain; and Institute of Conservation (ICON) accredited conservator; and winner of the Museums and Galleries Commission/Jerwood Award for Conservation 1998. He has designed isothermal protective glazing systems, which have been used in many cathedrals, churches and stately homes for the preservation of stained glass. He is consultant to several major museums and cathedrals including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Fine Art, Boston; and the Cathedrals of Siena.

Phil Thomas is the Church Buildings Officer and Secretary to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches of the Diocese of York. He was for many years a professional educationalist, and lectures on many architecture, art- and craft-related subjects. He is a trustee of the Ancient Monuments Society and the Stained Glass Trust, chairman of the Ellerton Church Preservation Trust, secretary of the Yorkshire Wolds Buildings Preservations Trust, and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers. He has been a member of the judging panels for the Arts Council British Gas Awards, the York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship bursaries, and the national Stevens Competition for Young Stained Glass Artists.

For further details call 01904 611687 or email info@stainedglasscentre.org.uk

Heritage Open Days

The Stained Glass Centre is participating in Heritage Open Days this year and will be open on Saturday 11 September 2010. There will be tours of the building and glass painting demonstrations, with an opportunity to try your hand. For more information see the Heritage Open Day website