Architecture and Glass: Stained Glass in English Cathedrals, Medieval to Modern



Overview

Part of the stunning experience in entering a medieval cathedral is the impact of the colour and images in stained glass. We will examine the relationship between architecture and the design of this glass from the medieval period to the continuing addition of work by modern glass artists.

The design of glass responded to the development of the delicate stonework of window tracery.  Early glass, such as that of the twelfth century in Canterbury Cathedral, was in place even before tracery was introduced. We will trace how medieval glass developed toward the ultimate achievement of York Minster's Great East Window in the fifteenth century. The work of designers and workshops producing glass in the nineteenth century was crucial to the replacement of glass lost to iconoclasts, and we will go on to examine how modern glass is playing its part – both in the medieval cathedrals and in the new cathedrals of the modern age.

The course will include a visit to Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford to view its remarkable range of glass from different periods. 

Programme details

Course starts: 2 Oct 2024

Week 1: Development of design in the architectural stonework of windows 

Week 2: Methods and materials in the production of stained glass 

Week 3: Early medieval stained glass in the English cathedrals

Week 4: Case study - Canterbury's Ancestors of Christ

Week 5: Later medieval stained glass in the English cathedrals

Week 6: Case study - York's Great East Window by John Thornton 

Week 7: Royal and painted glass - King's College Chapel Cambridge to the Oxford colleges 

Week 8: The nineteenth century - including Augustus Pugin and Edward Burne-Jones 

Week 9: Study visit to see the glass of Christchurch Cathedral in Oxford

Week 10: Modern glass in the English cathedrals and a footnote on the restoration of Notre Dame. 

Digital Certification

To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £285.00
Take this course for CATS points £30.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Mr Keith Hasted

Keith's initial research focus was Italian Renaissance palace architecture, and he has since developed a special interest in the architecture of cathedrals, not only in England but also in mainland Europe. He has taught courses over a number of years in the OUDCE weekly programme and Summer School and for the WEA.

Course aims

To trace the development of stained glass - medieval to modern - by looking at the work produced for the cathedrals in England 

Course objectives:

Explore, and recognise from examples, the work of some of the great glass designers

Consider the impact on this design of the progressive discovery and use of new materials and methods.

Teaching methods

Seminars using visual images

Provision of colour printed notes to accompany each session

Course group discussions

Case studies of particular examples of stained glass

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to understand:

  • The development of design styles in cathedral glass over the period medieval to modern
  • The early materials and methods used in the production of stained glass
  • The impact of the introduction of new materials and methods at various points in the history of this glass

Assessment methods

Course members are invited to prepare an assignment as a short essay of around 1500 words. The subject for the assignment is as follows -

Choosing a particular example of English cathedral glass, assess how its materials and methods reflect the historic period of its creation. You may also like to consider how its design takes into account the architectural setting and the style of window tracery in the period.

Assessment will consider how the student has related the chosen example to the principles of both technique an style in the historic development of stained glass.

A preparatory plan for the essay, of up to 500 words, should be prepared for discussion with the tutor during the course, but will not be part of the formal assessment.  

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support