What is NL Historic Stained Glass all about?
NL Historic Stained Glass is a volunteer initiative. We are primarily retired heritage and other professionals who came together in 2024 because we are concerned about NL’s important collections of historic, architectural stained-glass windows.
Why are you concerned?
Many churches and buildings are being sold or torn down, and NL’s collections of historic stained glass are at risk of being lost, damaged, thrown out, or sold outside the province.
Why is our stained glass important?
NL has extensive collections of historic stained-glass windows created by English, French, German, Irish, Scottish, as well as pre- and post-Confederation Canadian studios. They are masterpieces of historically significant art. In fact, we have the largest collections of Irish Craft and Scottish-Ballantine stained-glass windows in all of North America. There is much opportunity for communities to leverage these priceless assets for cultural and economic development, especially tourism.
But first, we must overcome several challenges.
Lack of Awareness and Appreciation: Most NLers are not aware of how extensive and priceless our collections of historic stained glass are, nor their importance as symbols of our history and diverse cultural identities that should be preserved. In many cases, the windows were cherished memorials to those who went before us. Many people are also not aware of the current urgent need to research, document and preserve our historic stained-glass art, and to ensure it stays in the communities where it belongs for the benefit of current and future generations.
Little Research and Documentation: Most of NL’s stained-glass windows have never been investigated and documented. This is despite the fact there’s been a national registry since 1986 -- the Registry of Stained Glass Windows in Canada (RSGC). The RSGC was developed through the Visual Art and Art History Program at York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There is also the Canadian Institute of Stained Glass based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
No Protective Legislation: There is currently NO legislation under the NL Historic Resources Act to protect our historic stained-glass windows from being destroyed or removed from the province. This lack of legislative protection puts these precious cultural resources in peril.
What is your vision? Your goals?
Our vision is to help protect, preserve and ignite pride in NL’s masterpieces of historic, architectural stained-glass windows for the benefit of current and future generations.
We have four goals:
To research and document NL’s historic stained-glass windows and the stories of the people who created, funded and preserved them
To raise awareness and understanding of NL’s historic stained-glass windows, including their historic, cultural and economic significance
To encourage the preservation of NL’s historic stained-glass windows, including the knowledge and traditional skills to restore and maintain them
To establish the right entity, with the right governance and funding
Like to know more about our strategies and future plans? Check out our Strategic Plan.
What do you mean by “architectural” stained-glass?
We use the word “architectural” to refer to stained-glass windows that were built into the architecture or structure of a building -- versus works of stained-glass art that were created to stand on their own. The stained-glass art this group is focused on is typically found in windows or doors – interior and exterior.
And while we are interested in newer windows -- because they will become historic in time -- our initial focus is on helping to preserve NL’s historic stained-glass windows, some of which go back centuries.
What exactly is stained glass?
Technically, stained glass is glass that is coloured by introducing metal oxides to the glass while it’s in the molten state in the furnace. Sometime referred to as “pot metal glass,” the glass is coloured throughout its body. A broken piece will reveal colour all the way through.
A traditional stained-glass window is a mosaic of fairly small pieces of flat coloured glass, sometimes painted. It is held together by a network of H-shaped lead strips, called “cames,” all of which are secured into an opening by an iron armature.
Want to learn more? Check out this article: What is a Stained-Glass Window?
Where are these windows?
You’ll see these historic windows throughout the province in a variety of buildings, such as churches, hospitals, schools, seniors homes, funeral homes, old stores and banks, and government-owned buildings. You’ll also find them in private homes. In fact, NL has some of the finest, diverse collections of historic, architectural stained glass created by master stained-glass designers and glaziers.
I see a lot of religious stained-glass windows on your website. Are you a religious organization?
No, we are not at all a religious organization. We are a heritage organization focused on protecting and preserving many different kinds of stained-glass windows important to NL’s history and culture. They are important for numerous reasons.
Many of the stained-glass windows throughout the province memorialize men and women who have contributed to the development of their communities and country. As the windows were expensive, they were typically paid for and donated by those who could afford them in memory of their loved ones. For example, there’s a Scottish stained glass, nativity-scene window dedicated to Sir Robert Reid at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in St. John’s, NL, Canada. This window was donated by his sons, and recognizes his life and place of birth, Coupar Angus, Scotland.
The majority of memorial windows are found in religious contexts, but not all. There are secular windows that capture our history. For example, the spectacular Remembrance Peace Window in the atrium of the Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavillion in St. John’s, NL, Canada, depicts wars and conflicts that NLers have made tremendous sacrifices for, paying homage to those who fell.
We are also focusing on art glass in old houses throughout the province, which feature everything from seascapes, flora and fauna, to plain textured and patterned stained glass. Stained-glass windows are also found in government buildings, schools and other public places.
Taken together, our stained-glass windows are a record or story book of those who helped build our communities, and are a reflection of our diverse and rich cultural heritage. All to say, NL has a vast array of stained-glass windows that are important cultural assets we need to preserve. One of the aims of this heritage initiative is to better leverage them for community economic development, especially tourism.
How can these stained-glass windows be used for tourism?
We know from experience that tourists are very interested in our many significant collections of historic, architectural stained-glass windows, especially Europeans coming by cruise ship. They are fascinated with all the spectacular churches and cathedrals, and the stained glass created by famous European master glaziers. We hear them saying they had no idea that such rare collections existed, still intact, in the “middle of the North Atlantic.” Given that these ships visit other ports, it stands to reason that tourists would enjoy seeing more of the spectacular stained glass we have throughout NL. These collections of stained glass are, therefore, important assets that communities could be better leveraging for tourism and economic development.
Are there any best-case-examples of how others have leveraged historic stained glass for tourism?
Yes, there certainly are. Here are just a few examples of where spectacular collections of historic, architectural stained glass play a big role in tourism:
Basilica de la Sagrada Familia -- Barcelona, Spain
Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Reims -- Reims, France
Cologne Cathedral -- Cologne, Germany
Gran Hotel Ciudad De Mexico -- Mexico City, Mexico
King’s College Chapel -- Cambridge University, Cambridge, England
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision -- Hilversum, Netherlands
Notre Dame Cathédral -- Paris, France
Sainte-Chapelle Chapel -- Paris, France
Westminster Abbey -- London, England
York Minster Cathedral -- York, England
Over time, we will be reaching out to the above to learn more about how they are leveraging their historic stained-glass collections to boost tourism.
Do you have an “elevator pitch” I can use when talking about this to others?
Here’s the pitch. What would you say if I told you that Newfoundland & Labrador has extensive collections of priceless art… that most people are not aware of? Masterpieces… that we should be preserving… bragging about… and using to boost tourism. Masterpieces… that in their own category are equivalent to say… a Picasso or Renoir.
What if I told you that in some cases, that art is now in grave danger of being damaged, thrown out… or sold outside the province?
How could that possibly be true, you might ask?
Well, it IS true. What I’m talking about is historic stained-glass… that you see in the windows and doors of churches, hospitals, schools and even private homes. They are actually masterpieces… which need to be preserved. Up to this point, there’s been little awareness.
We’re particularly concerned right now… because many of the buildings are being sold or torn down. We need to take action before it’s too late.
Is your focus just on windows at risk?
While we are naturally concerned about any windows at risk, we want to eventually document, preserve and promote all of the historic, architectural stained-glass art in NL.
How do I go about getting my windows registered? Is there a cost?
We are working on a registry for this website. There is no cost.
Who’s funding the initiative?
We are in our early days and have begun the process of seeking funding. To date, we are grateful to the NL Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts & Recreation for granting us $15K through their Cultural Economic Development Program. This funding is enabling us to develop this website which will include an interactive map allowing public access, as well as a database/registry for managing the information we will be collecting.
When was the initiative formed and who is on your Board?
NL Historic Stained Glass was formed in 2024 by primarily retired heritage professionals. The organization includes experts in historic stained glass, academics, historians and other specialized advisors. We’re all volunteers.
Our Working Committee:
Chair: Heather MacLellan
Secretary: Barbara Parsons Clancy
Directors: Rev. Derrick Bishop, Dr. Shirley Ann Brown, Megan Donoghue-Stanford, Dr. John FitzGerald, Robert Pitt
Advisors: Anne Cochrane (Marketing Communications)
You can find more about our team here: Our Team.
Are you a charity?
We are currently not a registered charity. The initiative is in its early days, and this is something we are considering.
Will I be able to access the information you’re gathering on stained-glass windows?
Yes. We will be developing tools, such an interactive map for our website, that will make it easy for communities, tourists and the general public to access information. We will also make the database/registry itself available to academics and others wishing to analyze the data. Please note that our database/registry and map are under development.
Do other provinces/territories have similar initiatives? Are you working with them?
To our knowledge, there are two other initiatives in Canada focused on stained-glass art: the Registry of Stained Glass Windows in Canada (RSGC) that was developed out of York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and the Canadian Institute of Stained Glass based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Yes, our goal is to work with both organizations. In fact, one member of our Board, Dr. Shirley Ann Brown, was responsible for developing the RSCG. Our Board also includes PhD candidate Megan Donoghue-Stanford from York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who researched the stained-glass collections of the St. John’s Ecclesiastical District National Historic Site, St. John’s, NL, Canada, in 2020.
Are you including Labrador in your initiative?
Absolutely. We want to reflect all of our cultural identities, and will be reaching out to indigenous groups throughout NL. We are particularly excited to learn what historic stained glass exists in Labrador.
There’s a lot of old stained-glass windows inside of houses, like the doors to “front rooms.” Are you including them?
Yes. There are certainly a lot of historic stained-glass windows in houses throughout NL, and we are very excited to learn about them. Maybe we’ll have a contest for the community with the most historic stained-glass windows in private homes. That would surely be something to brag about and promote to tourists.
Is it just old stained glass that you’re interested in? We have some newer pieces that were created in recent years. Who can I contact about that?
While our primary focus is on historic, architectural stained-glass windows, we are definitely interested in learning about newer windows -- as they will eventually become historic. Email us at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
We had old stained-glass windows removed from a building and they now hang on the walls of our community centre. Do they count? Do you want them in your registry?
Yes. When churches and other buildings were torn down, many stained-glass windows ended up as stand-alone art in other facilities. And that’s great news -- as they’re being preserved and appreciated. We are certainly interested in documenting them. We are also planning to have information on our website on how you can best care for and maintain your historic windows.
We have a bunch of old windows that are broken and stored in the basement. Are you interested in them?
Yes. Email us at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
Will you buy my old stained glass?
No. NL Historic Stained Glass is not in the business of buying windows. We’d like to see them kept in their original communities, and encourage you to donate them to your community so they can be seen and appreciated by all.
Do we have a lot of historic stained glass in the province?
Yes. While we don’t have all the data, we do know that NL has some of the finest, diverse collections of historic, architectural stained-glass windows created by important master glaziers who have also created windows for such iconic buildings as Windsor Castle and Westminster Palace. And that’s exactly one of the goals of this initiative -- to document the collections in NL, and make that information available to the public.
There’s already been some excellent research and documentation done, some of which was unfortunately impacted by Covid. In 2020, PhD candidate Megan Donoghue-Stanford from the Visual Art and Art History Program at York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, had planned to work in NL to record our stained-glass collections, and study their role in the historic and cultural identities of this province. Due to COVID, she had to limit her research to the principal churches of the St. John’s Ecclesiastical District National Historic Site, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
In addition to Donoghue-Stanford’s research, Dr. Shirley Ann Brown, Founding Director of the Registry of Stained Glass Windows in Canada, has written about the English stained-glass collections at the Anglican Cathedral in St. John’s, NL, Canada.
Donoghue-Stanford and Brown continue to volunteer their expertise, working with other professionals to raise awareness and create action to ensure the protection of these magnificent and often medieval-inspired works of art that sit quietly in buildings throughout NL.
How old are these windows? How old is the oldest?
The historic, architectural stained-glass windows we will be documenting generally date back to the mid-1800s. There were undoubtedly older windows, but they were destroyed. For example, some windows in St. John's would have been destroyed by the Great Fires of 1817, 1846 and 1892 -- each of which repeatedly razed very significant portions of the old city.
The oldest window in NL that we know of to date is in The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in St. John’s. It goes back to 1858/9. The window depicts St. John the Baptist, The Virgin Mary with Child Jesus and St. Jude. It is the work of English master glazier William Warrington, who also created masterpieces for Presentation Convent in St. John’s, NL, Canada.
NL’s Warrington stained glass shares some pretty prestigious cousins. Warrington also worked for the famous English architect and designer Augustus Welby Pugin, creating magnificent stained glass in England for the Palace of Westminster (the British Parliament), as well as for several stately cathedrals and churches, including Norwich Cathedral, Peterborough Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, and St. Mary’s Church at Sutton Coldfield. Here in Canada, you can see more of Warrington’s work for Pugin at St. Anne’s Chapel in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.
Maybe that’s another contest -- to find the NL community with the oldest architectural stained glass.
Who are the artists or studios who created them?
NL’s collections of historic stained-glass windows reflect a diversity of eras and cultures:
Older
English: William Warrington. The Cathedral Basilica and Presentation Convent, St. John’s, NL, Canada. Charles Eamer Kempe. Anglican Church, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
French: Charles Lévêque. The Cathedral Basilica and St. Patrick’s Church (closed), St. John’s, NL, Canada.
German: Louis Lichtenheldt-Koch (worked for the Lévêque firm and inherited the company after Lévêque’s death). Koch created 15 masterpieces for The Cathedral Basilica in St. John’s, NL, Canada, as well as a stunning window for the original chapel at the Presentation Sisters’ Nagle House in Witless Bay, NL, Canada, in 1890.
Irish: Earley & Co. NL has the only Earley stained-glass in Canada. These windows can be found in St. John’s, NL, Canada: The Cathedral Basilica (a rare collection of 35); the former Corpus Christie Church (closed); Littledale Mercy Chapel; St. Clare’s Morrissey Chapel and St. Patrick’s Mercy Home. Earley windows are also the pride of St. Peter’s Church, Mount Pearl and Holy Trinity Church, Torbay, NL, Canada. Independent Irish designer Michael Healey’s sole Canadian window is in St. Anne’s Church, Conception Harbour, NL, Canada.
Scottish: Ballantine and Son. The St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in St. John’s, NL, Canada, boasts 12 major pictorial and other patterned stained-glass windows. It is the largest collection of Scottish-Ballantine stained-glass windows of its kind in North America.
Newer
Pre- and post-Confederation Canadian: McCausland Ltd, Luxfer and Blackmore. McCausland designed many of the windows of the Anglican Cathedral Church in St. John’s and the Anglican Church in St. Thomas, NL, Canada. Artists with the Canadian firm N.T. Lyon also created some windows for those churches.
What’s the most valuable window?
It’s impossible to put a price tag on these historic stained-glass windows. Their value is far more than money, whatever that figure might be. They are symbols of NL’s rich cultural heritage and identities, and cherished memorials to loved ones. They are also important assets for our tourism industry.
Do artists who produce stained-glass windows retain any copyright on their image?
No. A stained-glass window legally becomes a “fixture” as soon as it’s affixed to a building. It then becomes the property of the building owner, and no copyright applies.
If the stained-glass windows were removed before a building was sold or ownership transferred, there is still no copyright associated with the original artist. This is because the chain of copyright was already broken when the windows were initially affixed to the building.
Can I walk into a church, take photos and publish my own book on the windows?
No. All of these buildings have owners, and if you were undertaking a project like a commercial book about stained-glass windows, you would need permission. The owners would inform you about copyright status. Yes, tourists do take photos of these historic windows all the time, but using the art to create a book or any other product for commercial reasons is an entirely different matter.
I have information, stories and photos of our local stained-glass windows. Who do I contact?
We are working on a registration section for this website. In the meantime, email us at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
Do you have a strategic plan that I can look at?
Yes. You can read the full Strategic Plan.
Are there any books written on NL’s stained-glass windows? If yes, where can I buy them?
John Edward FitzGerald and Robert Young, Stained Glass Windows of the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: An Illustrated Guide (St. John’s, 2018). Available by emailing NL Historic Stained Glass at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com or from the Cathedral Basilica Foundation at info@basilicafoundation.ca.
I’d like to have someone come out and speak to my community. Who can I contact?
We plan to have a Speakers section on our website so you can see which speakers are available to speak on various topics. In the meantime, email us at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
I have some windows I’d like to donate. How do I do that? Do you store windows?
No, we do not store windows. However, please do contact us, as we will certainly be able to find a home for your historic stained glass. Email info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
Or, speak directly to your community leaders, as our preference would be for the windows to stay in their original communities.
I’d like to donate money to support this initiative. How do I do that? How can I determine the value, and will I get a charitable receipt?
We are currently not a registered charity. The initiative is in its early days, and this is something we are considering. That said, please contact Board Chair Heather McLellan, who will make note of your interest: info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
With regard to the value, it’s impossible to put a price tag on these historic stained-glass windows. Their value is far more than money, whatever that figure might be. They are symbols of NL’s rich cultural heritage and identities, and cherished memorials to loved ones. They are also important assets for our tourism industry.
I’d like to get involved and volunteer. Who do I contact?
Board Chair Heather McLellan: info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
If we have a building with stained-glass windows, should I be insuring them? Do you have a contact?
Our experience is that most of these historic, architectural stained-glass windows are insured as part of the building. When they are removed and displayed as stand-alone art, that may be another matter. It’s best to speak with your insurance provider.
How do you protect stained-glass windows from vandalism?
Many owners have put Lexan or plexiglass over the exterior of their stained-glass windows. Lexan is a high-quality form of plexiglass and one of the most widely used plastics because of their light weight, high-impact strength, flame retardancy and clarity. The sheets are impact-resistant, and can certainly help protect your historic windows from vandalism. They will also help preserve the windows themselves, and reduce the need for reglazing. You may wish to check with glass suppliers. To learn more, check out the “Maintenance” section of our website.
How do I repair old stained-glass windows and how much does it cost?
You would have to speak with an expert. While we can’t recommend any specific expert, we are building a list. If you are a stained-glass-restoration expert and would like to be included, please contact us at info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com. To learn more about repairing your windows, check out the “Maintenance” section of our website.
How do you protect stained-glass windows from the elements, and general wear and tear? How do you clean them?
Covering your historic stained-glass windows with Lexan or plexiglass will certainly help. You will also want to ensure you are using the right products to clean your windows, as even the mildest of chemicals might damage your windows.
One of our goals is to provide information about the care and maintenance of historic, architectural stained glass. To learn more about taking care of your windows, check out the “Maintenance” section of our website.
I’d like to know more about being trained in the skills of stained-glass windows. Who can I contact?
One of our goals is to encourage the rejuvenation of training. But it’s early days for this initiative, and we’re not there yet. That said, please contact Board Chair Heather McLellan, who will make note of your interest: info@nlhistoricstainedglass.com.
Do you sell any books or merchandise, like sun catchers? If yes, where can I buy them?
Not currently. The initiative is in its early days, and we are considering having an online gift shop further down the road.
In the meantime, several churches in the St. John’s Ecclesiastical District do sell ornaments and sun catchers designed after some of our stained-glass windows: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Gower Street United Church, The Anglican Cathedral and The Cathedral Basilica – all of which are in St. John’s, NL, Canada. There may be other churches across the province that also have stained-glass ornaments, and we hope to capture that information over time.
I’d like to use some of the stained-glass patterns in my own crafting. Can I do that?
Please see the Q & A on copyright. We suggest you speak directly with the owners of the windows.
With regard to this group selling products that reflect NL’s historic stained glass, this initiative is in its early days, and we are considering having an online gift shop further down the road.
What are you doing to give the public access to see NL’s historic stained-glass collections? Are you hosting any exhibits or shows? Are you working with The Rooms and other museums?
One of the goals of this initiative is certainly to create opportunities for the public to see and learn more about NL’s historic, architectural stained-glass windows. Beyond awareness, we want to ignite pride and excitement about what we have here in NL. We would love to work with The Rooms and other art galleries and museums throughout the province, but we are not there yet. Our first step is to gather information and to document the basics of what historic windows we have and where they are.
Where can I learn more about stained glass in general, and its history?
Check out the Library section of our website.
