A two-year project to restore a stained-glass window designed by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris at Salisbury Cathedral has been hailed a success. The 6.5-metre tall 'Angels' window, depicting ministering and praising angels, underwent careful cleaning and conservation to address water ingress, condensation, and deterioration of painted detail.
Head glazier Sam Kelly, who has worked at the cathedral for 40 years, led the team in removing the fragile window from above the south quire aisle in February 2024. 'It wasn't very stable and you have to be a bit careful that you're not going to do any more damage,' he said. The window was documented before restoration to plan the work and record it for future custodians.
The team cleaned the glass to restore original colours and applied lost details onto 2mm thick backing glass, rather than the original surface. 'Nothing has been done to the original glass other than light cleaning,' Kelly noted. Protective glazing and oak frames were added to prevent further deterioration.
The Very Rev Nicholas Papadopulos, dean of Salisbury, praised the project: 'The team has restored the contours, clarity and colour of this 19th-century masterpiece. Sunlight will illuminate Burne-Jones's angels once more, and their beauty will lift our spirits and rekindle our hope.' The window is now on display in the south quire aisle and will be rededicated at evensong on 7 May at 5.30pm.
