STAINED GLASS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 185, 12 July 1940, Page 5

STAINED GLASS

One of the world's leading crafts men in stained glass put out the fires of his kiln, where the colours are burnt into the glass, and sait farewell to his stafT when war brokt out. To-day the fires are re-lit. the stall re-assembled, and the London workshop is busy satisfying orders from abroad. The first of the war orders leaves England soon for the United States. It is a great windc{\v for St. Paul's School Chapel, Concord, New Hanip shire. Another window will shortly be shipped to Canada, where it will adorn the chapel of WyclifTc College, Toronto; another is going to the Scottish Church, Salisbury Rhodesia and yet another to St. Mary's Church, Wellington, New Zealand. ' The hands which produce the ma< terpieces in colourful glass are those of Reginakl Bell. He learnt the art from his father, who learnt it from his own father before him, "The craft of stained glass came from Europe, where the French. Swiss, Dutch, Germans and, later, the Italians were experts,'' says Mr Bell. "But centuries ago it was introduced to Britain, chiefly through the clergy, and it took growth. Craftsmen took so naturally to the art that as early as the 14th century glass painting schools arose all over the kingdom and English stained glass became the most sought after even in the countries of Europe where it originated, and where it was already tending to decline."