The ancient art form of stained glass became a vehicle for imaginative learning about the
Ruins of the Former Cathedral Church of St. Michael, Coventry. The site was included on the 2012 World Monuments Watch to draw attention to the need for conservation and opportunities for reinterpretation. On September 8, during a Watch Day at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, children of all ages created their own designs for stained glass panes on adhesive vinyl, and used them to fill an acrylic panel in the shape of a Gothic window. This communal effort was inspired by the faces of medieval Coventry that are found on the surviving stained glass created by the city’s medieval glaziers. Watch Day participants were also able to observe the work of stained glass conservators, visit the former cathedral, and gain an appreciation for the importance of preserving Coventry.
Stained glass designs drawn on adhesive vinyl found their place on a special acrylic panel.
Children of all ages took inspiration for their designs from surviving fragments of medieval stained glass from old Coventry Cathedral.
A young visitor poses in front of the finished stained glass panel.
Watch Day participants pose with their designs.
During the day, visitors were able to observe the ongoing work to conserve stained glass from old Coventry Cathedral.
A conservator labels a fragment of stained glass in the process of conservation.
Jonathan Foyle, Chief Executive of WMF Britain, World Monuments Fund’s affiliate in the United Kingdom, led a historical tour through the city of Coventry, visiting the cathedral, Holy Trinity Church, and St. Mary’s Guildhall.
