The Stained Glass Museum

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The Stained Glass Museum The Stained Glass Museum is the only museum dedicated to the art of stained glass in the UK. Located in the heights of Ely Cathedral, Ely, Cambridgshire.

The Stained Glass Museum is the only museum in the UK dedicated to displaying and interpreting the art of stained glass to the public. The Stained Glass Museum is an independent museum and registered charity (no. 1169842) in the UK. The museum was founded in 1972 initially to rescue windows from redundant churches. The Museum first opened to the public in the north triforium of Ely Cathedral in 1979. In 1997 an Appeal was set up to rebuild the Museum in the south triforium of Ely Cathedral. Our collection spans an enormous chronological range, showing the development of stained glass from the thirteenth to the twenty-first century. The Museum also has a growing collection of tools, and stained glass designs and cartoons related to the design and making of stained glass windows. A specialist library is available to researchers by appointment.

🍂 Still looking for something creative to do this October half-term?There’s still time to book one of the remaining plac...
19/10/2026

🍂 Still looking for something creative to do this October half-term?

There’s still time to book one of the remaining places on our folk-tale inspired children’s art workshop!

Join us on Wednesday 28 October for our October Half term Crafts: Children's Tamsin Abbott inspired Acrylic Panel Workshop, where young artists can create their own acrylic roundel inspired by Wild Folk, our current exhibition of beautiful glass illustrations by artist Tamsin Abbott.

✨ Be inspired by the stories, explore the folk tales and enchanting imagery of Wild Folk, discover Tamsin’s artwork up close, then design and create your own stained-glass-inspired panel to take home.

🎨 Suitable for ages 7+. Advance booking is essential, and spaces are limited!

🎟️ Book your place here:
https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/half-term-crafts-childrens-tamsin-abbott-inspired-acrylic-panel-workshop

Although our glass fusing workshop has already sold out, there’s still more half-term fun to enjoy! Join us on Monday 26 October for a FREE October Half Term Crafts: Journeys Discovery Morning, alongside our friends at Ely Cathedral. We’ll be exploring the theme of journeys through a range of fun, family-friendly activities.

We look forward to welcoming you! 🍁

🍂✨ There is lots to enjoy this October Half Term at The Stained Glass Museum! ✨🍂Looking for some creative, family-friend...
13/10/2026

🍂✨ There is lots to enjoy this October Half Term at The Stained Glass Museum! ✨🍂

Looking for some creative, family-friendly fun during the holidays? We’ve got three fantastic workshops and activities coming up, with something for everyone!

🚶‍♀️ Monday 26 October – October Half Term Crafts: Journeys Discovery Morning

Join us and the lovely folks at Ely Cathedral for a morning of fun, hands-on activities across the Cathedral and the museum, all inspired by the theme of ‘going on a journey’.

🎟️ It’s FREE and there’s no need to book! Just come along anytime between 10am–12pm.

🎄 Tuesday 27 October – October Half Term Crafts: Christmas Family Glass Fusing Tealight Holder

Our popular family glass fusing workshop is back! Work alongside your child to create your very own fused glass tealight holder, a beautiful decoration to enjoy all season long!

⚠️ Places are nearly sold out, so book early to avoid disappointment: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/christmas-family-glass-fusing-tealight-holder

🎨 Wednesday 28 October – October Half term Crafts: Children's Tamsin Abbott inspired Acrylic Panel Workshop

Be inspired by our brilliant Wild Folk exhibition by artist Tamsin Abbott and get creative with your own acrylic panel!

Explore Tamsin’s techniques and create your own unique piece of artwork to take home. 🎨

🎟️ Spaces are limited, and suitable for ages 7+, so book now to secure your place: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/half-term-crafts-childrens-tamsin-abbott-inspired-acrylic-panel-workshop

We're really looking forward to the final online talk in our autumn series, The Life and Work of Trena Cox (1895-1980) w...
12/10/2026

We're really looking forward to the final online talk in our autumn series, The Life and Work of Trena Cox (1895-1980) with Aleta Doran, which takes place this Wednesday, 14 October at 7pm

This talk, given by artist and researcher, Aleta Doran, will explore the career of Chester-based twentieth-century stained glass artist Trena Cox. It will explore the circumstances in Cheshire in the first half of the twentieth century which enabled Cox to establish her career and construct her professional identity. It will also reflect on the evolution of Cox’s work over the course of a career spanning almost fifty years.

Aleta Doran is an artist and educator specialising in glass mosaic, with a lifelong fascination for glass in all its forms. Following five years as Artist in Residence at Chester Cathedral, she became Emerita Artist in Residence in 2024. Her research into stained glass artist Trena Cox led to two major exhibitions celebrating Cox’s work and legacy in Chester. Aleta has documented every known example of Cox’s work and recently completed a Masters by Research at the University of Chester, focusing on Cox’s early career and commissions for the Cathedral.

To book your ticket, please visit: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/the-life-and-work-of-trena-cox-1895-1980-with-aleta-doran-wednesday-14-october

Not able to join us live? Your ticket includes access to a recording of the talk to enjoy from the following day

There’s just 1 space available on tomorrow’s ’autumn days’ themed SGMinis: Fun for Under 5s at The Stained Glass Museum ...
06/10/2026

There’s just 1 space available on tomorrow’s ’autumn days’ themed SGMinis: Fun for Under 5s at The Stained Glass Museum session at the museum tomorrow - we’ve got lots of great activities, stories, crafts and songs ready for a fun morning inspired by the museum’s collection 🍁🍂🍁

Book your place here: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/sg-minis

It's just a few days now until the next talk in our autumn series: David Evans: The Use of Published Prints For His Desi...
05/10/2026

It's just a few days now until the next talk in our autumn series: David Evans: The Use of Published Prints For His Designs with Jeff Hopewell which take place on Wednesday, 7 October at 7pm

In this talk, Canon Jeff Hopewell explores how David Evans drew on existing artworks for his stained glass designs, a practice widely accepted in the late Georgian and early Victorian periods. More than 67 sources have been identified, ranging from celebrated masterpieces to lesser-known works spanning four centuries. The talk considers how these artworks were adapted for glass and what they reveal about Evans’s artistic methods and influences.

Jeff Hopewell has long had an interest in stained glass and is a retired priest in the Church of England. He is also the Stained Glass Advisor to the Leicester Diocesan Advisory Committee, as well as the author of a book on the Glaswegian stained glass artist Douglas Hamilton and his next work The Stained Glass of the Horwood Brothers: the Life and Times of a Provincial Victorian Firm is due for publication next month. He has also written an article for the BSMGP Journal on the sources used by David Evans of Shrewsbury for his stained glass, which forms the basis for this talk

Book your tickets online here: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/david-evans-the-use-of-published-prints-for-his-designs-with-jeff-hopewell-wednesday-7-october

Create a bespoke glass artwork at our Screen Printing on Glass Masterclass at The Stained Glass Museum this October!Exp...
01/10/2026

Create a bespoke glass artwork at our Screen Printing on Glass Masterclass at The Stained Glass Museum this October!

Explore the technique of screen printing on glass as award winning artist James Cockerill guides you in making a beautiful, personal artwork. You will create unique collages made from layers of your own digital photographs and with access to James’s archive of images. Your composition will be kiln-fired onto glass to create a finished panel that is animated by coloured light and truly your own.

The last few spaces are now available - please book via our website here: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/screen-printing-on-glass-masterclass-with-james-cockerill/

It's your last chance to book for tonight's online talk: Wild Folk and the Illuminating Alchemy of Glass with Tamsin Abb...
30/09/2026

It's your last chance to book for tonight's online talk: Wild Folk and the Illuminating Alchemy of Glass with Tamsin Abbott which takes place tonight, Wednesday 30 September at 7pm (BST)

If you've loved visiting Tamsin Abbott's Wild Folk exhibition here at The Stained Glass Museum, been one of the hundreds who've visited the online exhibition or are planning your visit to come and see it soon - we think you'll really enjoy this evening!

Find out more about Tamsin Abbott's work, her creative practice and the beautiful Wild Folk book (which was recently shortlisted for The Wainwright Prize

All tickets include a link to an online recording of the talk too, perfect if you are unable to join us live!

More information about the talk, and the others in our autumn series, and tickets are available here: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/wild-folk-and-the-illuminating-alchemy-of-glass-tamsin-abbott

Karl Parsons died in 1934, aged just 50 years old.His elder sister, Beatrice, a fellow artist, worked for stained glas...
30/09/2026

Karl Parsons died in 1934, aged just 50 years old.

His elder sister, Beatrice, a fellow artist, worked for stained glass artist Christopher Whall, and was instrumental in apprenticing her younger brother, aged just 15 at the time, to him. Parson’s learnt much from working with Whall, including working on commissions in Gloucester Cathedral, and, like Whall, teaching at the Central School of Arts and Crafts.

From 1908 to 1930 Parsons had his own studio in the Glass House in Fulham where he developed a number of innovative techniques to increase the technical richness of his windows. His first commission there was for Church of St Alban in Hindhead, Surrey.

We are fortunate to have 3 panels by Karl Parsons on display at The Stained Glass Museum. The first two, both made in 1913, were originally for St Michael’s Church in Sulhamstead, Berkshire

In the first, which depicts ‘Christ the Good Shepherd’ Parsons makes effective use of the sumptuous gold-pink slab glass of which he was so fond. Made by the addition of gold dust to the crucible of molten glass, it was one of the most expensive colours available.

The second 1913 panel from the same church features St Columba. St Columba was born in Donegal in the 6th century. He was one of thirteen monks to settle on the island of Iona and the leading figure in converting a tribe known as the Picts to Christianity.

Finally, this humorous panel, made c.1920 shows two characters in medieval costume attacking each other. It illustrates a comic poem written by the artist, Karl Parsons (1884–1934). 'O hark to the haut-boys (oboes), give ear to the gongs / That sound for the Tourney of Hammer and Tongs / The clang-tankerous sound to which everyone throngs...' is always popular with our visitors!

Did you know that you can support the museums collection directly by donating towards our Collections Fund, the only fund ringfenced to support the collection, conservation and display of our collection. You can find out more here: https://stainedglassmuseum.com/collectionsfund

🎄 Get your Christmas plans sorted early… with an evening to remember at The Stained Glass Museum 🎄Looking for something ...
28/09/2026

🎄 Get your Christmas plans sorted early… with an evening to remember at The Stained Glass Museum 🎄

Looking for something a little different for your group this Christmas? Our exclusive Festive Twilight Tours are now available to book for December.

Nestled high in Ely Cathedral, discover a remarkable collection as you’ve never seen it before. From medieval masterpieces to striking modern creations, explore the stories, artistry and craftsmanship behind the nation’s finest collection of stained glass. As evening falls, watch the museum’s exquisite collection sparkle after hours.

Enjoy a festive tipple as you take in the luminous colours and intricate details of this extraordinary art form, whilst an exclusive tour with a Curator brings this fascinating collection to life.

Perfect for friends, family, clubs, societies, work teams and groups looking to do Christmas a little differently. Enjoy a unique experience your group will be talking about long after the decorations come down ✨🎄

With strictly limited availability, get your group’s Christmas plans sorted early and book your Festive Twilight Tour online today: https://the-stained-glass-museum.myshopify.com/products/festive-twilight-tours

23/09/2026

Moving stained glass can be tricky! To do so safely takes care, preparation and teamwork 💪

In this video, stained glass conservator Isabelle shares practical advice for moving stained glass safely, helping to protect both you and the panel.

From planning your route and choosing the right equipment, to working together as a team and taking the necessary precautions, careful preparation can help minimise the risk of damage to the glass.

However, every panel is different and moving stained glass can carry significant risks. If you are in any doubt, we strongly recommend seeking the advice and support of a qualified stained glass conservator.

Address

Ely Cathedral
Ely
CB74DL

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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