The Solution

All the stained glass panels desperately need re-leading and re-cementing, as a matter of utmost urgency.  This entails removing each individual piece of stained glass from the window frame to be worked on.  This needs to be done very carefully as they are extremely fragile in their present state. During the process of removal, it is important that they retain their current shape and composition in order to rebuild them in exactly the same design. This work can only be done in the UK.

The existing lead will be carefully removed; the old lead cement will be cut/chipped off the glass and every piece of glass cleaned of all grime.  The glass sections (approximately 2,500 of them) will then be re-leaded, re-cemented and polished and the windows will look the same as when they were originally installed in the Cathedral back in 1929.

Due to the change in texture and shade over the years, thisis going to be a significant challenge for the restoration team.  A lot of the detailed work will, therefore have to be done with stains and paints, but with painstaking work, lots of experimental kiln-work and the blessings of God, a good match might be achieved.