Salisbury Cathedral has completed a two-year project to restore a treasured stained-glass window designed by pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones and textile artist and poet William Morris. The restoration of the 6.5-metre (21ft) tall “Angels” window has been hailed as a huge success, and the artwork will be celebrated and rededicated at an evensong service this week.
Sam Kelly, the head glazier who started as an apprentice at the cathedral 40 years ago, led the project. He admitted to some sleepless nights during the process. “It would be wrong to say I didn’t lie awake sometimes,” he said. “You are working on something that is very precious and if it fell on the floor, it would be very bad.”
The window, located above the south quire aisle, depicts “angeli ministrantes” and “angeli laudantes” – ministering and praising angels. Burne-Jones designed the angels, while Morris created the decorative leaf design. Over the past century and a half, water ingress, condensation, and deterioration of painted detail necessitated the restoration.
The first task in February 2024 was safely removing the heavy, unstable window. “It wasn’t very stable and you have to be a bit careful that you’re not going to do any more damage,” Kelly said. Once in the on-site workshop, the window was carefully documented to plan the restoration and provide a record for future custodians.
Kelly and his colleagues Vicky Pearce, Kate Kersey, and Alfie Durrant cleaned the glass to restore original colours. Using Burne-Jones’s chalk design, they restored lost details on 2mm thick “backing glass” rather than adding anything to the original surface. “Nothing has been done to the original glass other than light cleaning,” Kelly said. “All of the additional detail is on the backing glass.” Protective glazing and oak frames were added to prevent further deterioration.
Kelly expressed satisfaction with the results. “We have learned a lot about the history and execution of this window and it’s pleasing to know the work we have carried out will allow it to be enjoyed by generations to come.”
The dean of Salisbury, the Very Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, praised the project. “The team has restored the contours, clarity and colour of this 19th-century masterpiece through their painstaking work. We are proud that the artistry has been preserved and enhanced with contemporary skill. Sunlight will illuminate Burne-Jones’s angels once more, and their beauty will lift our spirits and rekindle our hope for many more years.”
The window can be seen in the south quire aisle and will be rededicated at evensong on 7 May at 5.30pm.
