BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 32nd ANNUAL EDITION 35 Working on the parish church of Lansdowne provided Gordon Muir the opportunity to study up-close a wide range of styles and techniques, from the Gothic-revival details of Ward and Hughes of London (1865) above, and the 20th century work of the two Websters, to the newly commissioned Red Forest windows, top. (Photos: Gordon Muir) Three of the new Red Forest windows at Lansdowne Parish Church, Glasgow (Photo: Gordon Muir) GORDON MUIR’S ACCOUNT OF WORKING AT ROB MacINNES ORIGINAL STAINED GLASS ‘Based in the West End of Glasgow, I have been working with Rob MacInnes Original Stained Glass. Rob MacInnes is a highly respected Icon-accredited stained glass conservator. Together, Rob and I have worked on new stained glass commissions, repairs and installations.’ ‘The HES Craft Fellowship has put both Aaron and me in a position to be able to work on some fantastic windows. HES has also been instrumental in understanding and responding to the factors which place the craft at risk of decline. This art form is steeped in history and tradition and has increasingly encountered challenges that jeopardise its survival.’ ‘At the start of my Craft Fellowship, I helped to make and install six new Gaelic language titled windows for an arts venue formerly known as Websters Theatre, which was originally the parish church of Lansdowne, in Glasgow. Collectively the panels were titled ‘The Red Forest’. This was a complimentary project to wider conservation, maintenance and repair works to the rest of the building. We are now working on a project to conserve and repair the historic windows in the upper floors. ‘The building was originally a T-plan early English-style apsidal church by architect John Honeyman, which was built in 1863 and is now listed, Category A. Its spire stands at a height of 66.5 metres, making it one of the slimmest in Europe. The church closed and in 2014 it was sold and converted into a theatre. ‘The building boasts three beautiful stained glass windows by Ward and Hughes of London, installed in 1865. In 1913, the spectacular windows by Alfred Alexander (Alf) Webster were added. Sometime between 1929 and 1934, Oscar Paterson’s window was installed. Later, from the 1950s, windows by Alf’s son, Gordon McWhirter Webster, were added. When the space operated as a theatre it was named Websters Theatre, Bar and Playhouse after Alf. Websters is overseen by FACT Three, a local charity founded by the trustees of Four Acres Charitable Trust to secure the future of the building. ‘Alf Webster was one of the most innovative stained glass artists of the 20th century. Unfortunately, he died in France serving with the Royal Gordon Highlanders after being seriously injured during the First World War. In his short life he was groundbreaking in his approach to stained glass. His son Gordon later became an eminent stained glass artist in his own right and produced over 200 stained glass windows during his career. ‘The Ward and Hughes windows are excellent examples of Victorian skill. The wonderful foliate ornamentation, based on leaves, flowers, vines and other plant forms, serve as a foil to the theatrical drama of the windows by Alf Webster. The large triple lancet windows give almost a light woven musical relief from the depth and gravity of Websters windows, like different songs on the same hymn sheet. ‘Rob MacInnes has developed a patented system for use with environmental protective glazing (EPG) systems to allow sections of the glazing to be removed and replaced by unscrewing cast bronze bolts. EPG works by utilising a new plane of protective glazing on the outside, with a ventilated space between this glazing and the original stained glass. Condensation which forms on the inner face of the protective glazing is gathered in a drip tray with hydrating lime ‘chuckies’, which can be accessed through the removable sections. Once Gordon Muir holding a commissioned window (Photo: Rob McDougall) the glass has been cleaned and conserved, each section can be easily removed in the future using the newly fitted cast bronze units and brass bars. FINDING CLUES IN THE ARTWORKS ‘The conservation project covers the three lancets (arch or window) of the ‘Glasgow window’ by Alf Webster, the windows by Gordon Webster, Oscar Patterson’s ‘Phoebe window’, and windows by Ward and Hughes. All of them are situated on the upper level of the church. ‘Being able to view these incredible windows close up reveals the detail, draughtsmanship and techniques Webster used so effectively. Much of the glass is double plated, causing the light and colour to change as the viewer moves along the walkway.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzI0Mzk=