Social History / St Mary Redcliffe Church
St Mary Redcliffe Church stages exhibition of stained-glass window competition finalists
St Mary Redcliffe Church have now selected five shortlisted designs in their open competition to find new stained-glass panels for their North Transept window, to replace the clear glass panels currently installed there.
It comes after the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Bristol in 2020, and the subsequent decision to remove the four original panels in the window – commonly referred to as The Good Samaritan – which were dedicated to Edward Colston.
“In the spirit of openness and inclusivity, St Mary Redcliffe decided to run a competition which was open to everyone of any age, to find new ideas for the stained-glass panels that are in recognition of the deep wrongs inflicted on so many in the past,” say the church.
is needed now More than ever
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The theme of the submitted entries is ‘And who is my neighbour?’, prompting an array of imaginative and thought-provoking ideas from people across the UK.
All five shortlisted designs are now displayed in an exhibition at the church. They come from fine artist and glass-maker Rachel Phillips, artist and painter Mark Woollam, artist and designer Helen Ward, junior doctor Ealish Swift, and stained-glass artist Aidan McRae Thomson.
Exhibition visitors will be encouraged to submit their feedback on the shortlisted entries, by filling out a comment card in the church or online via the website.
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These comments will be taken into consideration in the final judging process, which culminates on September 22 when the winning entry will be announced.
Subject to legal permissions, the winning design will be recreated in stained glass, marking a historic new vision of the North Transept window.
The exhibition is open until September 19 in the North Transept of St Mary Redcliffe Church, and is free to attend. For more information about the exhibition and to view the entries, visit www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/stained-glass-competition.
Main photo: Holywell Glass (image shows the first of the four stained glass panels removed from the North Transept window at St Mary Redcliffe Church)
Read more: St Mary Redcliffe launches stained glass window competition
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