Tewkesbury Abbey Theology Forum

Perhaps no art form is more closely associated in the cultural imagination with Christian buildings than that of stained-glass windows.  Jewel-coloured light falling through glass is a significant contributor to the sense of sacred space that many people experience in churches.  But what makes stained-glass so ideally suited to Christian purposes?  

This talk asks what is distinctive about stained-glass as a medium, and finds answers in biblical attitudes to windows, qualities such as transparency, luminosity, and colour, and medieval commentaries which view windows as channels of holiness, illuminating the hearts and minds of those on whom their light falls.

This theological framework for thinking about stained-glass is brought to life through windows by the contemporary artist, Thomas Denny, whose work may be seen in over 50 churches and cathedrals in the UK, including Tewkesbury Abbey.

A dozen churches in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire have Tom Denny windows. So many! And Dr Chloe Reddaway is an international expert in them. Come and be illuminated by her illustrated talk at Tewkesbury Abbey - not just for experts but for anyone with an interest.