Blackburn Cathedral; View from the roof including the Lantern Tower

After a very busy end to 2015, the start to the new year has very much seen us hit the ground running! Our schedule for the rest of 2016 is already pretty much planned out and includes a couple of great large scale new commissions alongside some challenging restoration contracts. Here’s a taster of some of what’s currently ongoing and shortly upcoming:

Blackburn Cathedral: 

We’re currently engaged in two seperate contracts with different Main Contractors for glazing works at Blackburn Cathedral. On the first we have produced and installed a set of leaded panels with intricate trefoil heads for the new 6 million pound extension which is shortly due for completion. Our works are almost complete with only a small amount of pointing and glass cleaning left to undertake. On the second we’ve been up on top of the Cathedral carrying out repairs to the clerestory glazing and are due to return to carry out remedial repairs and re-sealing of the cathedrals lantern glazing. The works are being carried out on behalf of John Turner Construction and Heritage Conservation Restoration Ltd respectively, both under instruction of James Sanderson of Purcell.

St. Leonards Church, Balderstone:

Having completed Phase 1 of a major restoration contract to the stained glass at St. Leonards, Phase 2 is now underway. This includes the removal of four of the five lancets within the East Window to allow for new replacement mullions. The window, which is a stunning example of arts and crafts style from the turn of the 20th Century, was produced by John William Brown on behalf of J Powell & Sons (London). The works are being carried out on behalf of Pinnacle Stonemasonry Ltd under instruction of Tony Keeble of Overton Architects.

All Hallows Church, Bispham:

We are currently hard at work in the studio drawing up the full size working cartoons for our “Light of the World” commission; a fully stained, twin lancet commission very much in a traditional ecclesiastical style.

High Peak Commission:

Rough design proposals are currently submitted and under review for a new large scale commission for the staircase of a substantial 1920’s residence near Buxton in the High Peak. Production for this is due to begin within the next month.

The Church of St. Stephen, Minneapolis, United States:

This is an interesting little transatlantic commission which see’s Lightworks team up with Matthew Alderman of Matthew Alderman Studios in the US to produce a set of 7 new stained glass panels for a new Adoration Chapel door at the Church of St. Stephen. We are currently awaiting confirmation from the appointed joiners on dimensions before work gets underway.

We’ll be updating our progress on all of these projects and more throughout the year. Better get cracking!