A couple of weeks ago I had to go down to the centre of Birmingham with work. I’d bought an Advance ticket on the train and as I wasn’t sure how long my meeting and site visit would last, I’d booked on a train in the late afternoon. As it happened I was done by 1 o’clock so I had just over a couple of hours to kill. I could have gone to a café to do some work, but that wouldn’t be much fun and the work could wait until I was back at base, so I decided to have a bit of a mooch.
My first stop was Birmingham Cathedral as I wanted to have a look at the stained glass windows designed by Birmingham born pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones and manufactured by the firm of William Morris & Co.
There are four windows in total, three at the east end of the building with the fourth immediately opposite at the west end. They’re quite magnificent works of Pre-Raphaelite art, and my photos, taken with my mobile phone, really can’t do them justice.
The left east window, the Nativity
The central east window, the Ascension
The right east window, the Crucifixion
The west window, the Last Judgment
The Ascension was installed in 1885 and the Nativity and the Crucifixion two years later. The Last Judgement was installed in 1897.
The Cathedral website tells us
They are considered characteristic of Burne-Jones’ later style – elongated bodies with small heads in relation to body length and designs which divide in two equal halves, horizontally. This technique separates heaven from earth in each of the windows.
and that
They demonstrate Burne-Jones’ immense skill and the fine craftsmanship of William Morris & Co. They are known for their vibrancy, the life-likeness of the figures, their ability to tell a story and their inspiring and dramatic qualities.
Well worth a visit to take a look, particularly on a sunny day with the light streaming through the windows emphasising their vibrant colours..
Down by the Dougie 
We visited the first time last year, the windows are magnificent, the church is quite imposing as well 🙂 ha ha must post mine 🙂
As a West Midlands lad, born and bred, I had no idea the cathedral had such stunning windows. I don’t go back to Brum very often but when I do I must check this out
Just goes to show you don’t always realise what’s on your own doorstep!
Certainly worth a look if you’re in the vicinity.
There are other examples of stained glass produced by the Burne-Jones / Morris & co. partnership, including the church at Staveley (I went to have a look last year). And I think there are a few others in the Lakes too.
Those are gorgeous windows!
They most certainly are. Have to be seen properly though to fully appreciate them.
Next time you’re in the Lakes, if you have chance you can pop over to Staveley as there’s one of his windows in the church there.
I still haven’t been into the church at Staveley, must remedy that soon. Those windows are stunning!
You could always use going to seethe windows as an excuse to visit the Hawkshead Brewery 😉