Many of us, I am sure, have spent time in holy places gazing at the beauty of their historic stained glass windows.
Now’s your chance to actually help Bath Abbey create a new one!
The church has launched a fundraising campaign appealing for donations to install a new window to commemorate the Bath-born Saint Alphege.
With 40% of funds already raised thanks to generous supporters, including The Friends of Bath Abbey, Bath Abbey is seeking to raise an additional £90,000 to create an extraordinary piece of Christian Art that will shine new light on Bath’s local saint.
Through the creation of a new stained glass window designed by renowned Bath-based artist Neil Ireson, Bath Abbey will celebrate the life of Saint Alphege, a Christian saint who was born in Bath in 953, became Abbot of Bath Abbey in the early 980s and Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006.
As Bath Abbey’s visitors and worshippers encounter this beautiful new piece of contemporary Christian Art – which will be installed in 2026, if funds are raised – they’ll learn more about Saint Alphege’s remarkable life, which was deeply rooted in Bath and the Abbey, and be inspired by his timeless message of generosity and peace.
The new stained glass window will be situated in the Abbey’s Saint Alphege Chapel, a sacred space where many of Bath Abbey’s thousands of international visitors seek sanctuary to pray for their loved ones, for the wider world, and for peace. Through Neil Ireson’s design, which includes a striking border that evokes international flags, the Saint Alphege stained glass window will emphasise Bath Abbey’s commitment to being “A House of Prayer for all Nations” for the local and global community.
Captured in the awe-inspiring window design is Bath Abbey’s profound spiritual connection with the Christian symbol of the Fountain of Life, as well as the Abbey’s treasured relationship with the City of Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage City famed for its “two waters” of the River Avon and the Roman Hot Springs, energy from which now powers the Abbey’s innovative eco-friendly heating system.
Reverend Canon Guy Bridgewater, Rector of Bath Abbey, said:
“With the generous support of our community, this vivid new depiction of our local saint will inspire visitors and pilgrims to Bath Abbey to pray and give thanks to God. The Saint Alphege Window’s bold themes of holiness, the Fountain of Life, and international mission will further strengthen our call at Bath Abbey to be “A House of Prayer for All Nations”, and we pray that this beautiful work of art, which communicates ancient truths in contemporary idiom, will inspire many to raise the cry: ‘Let there be Light!’.”
Bath Abbey has commissioned renowned Bath-based stained glass artist, Neil Ireson, to design and create the new Saint Alphege stained glass window.
Neil Ireson said:
“I’m delighted to have received this exceptional commission to create a new contemporary stained glass window in honour of Saint Alphege. The creation of the Saint Alphege Chapel’s new stained glass window is a culmination of my lifetime’s work and I’m really excited to be working with Bath Abbey, a church where I have such meaningful personal connections.”
Bath Abbey is delighted that Mogers Drewett LLP, a leading Southwest legal and financial planning firm, is sponsoring the Saint Alphege Window Appeal. Leslie Redwood, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Mogers Drewett LLP, said:
“As a firm, we are delivering a new strategy of increased engagement and partnerships with key individuals, companies, organisations and initiatives in each of the communities across our four locations. Having seen the great work that Bath Abbey has been delivering over many years, we are delighted to be able to sponsor the Saint Alphege Window Appeal and play a small role in supporting Bath Abbey and its future development, as well as helping leave a legacy for many generations to come.”
With a fundraising target of £90,000 to be raised by 31 December 2025, Bath Abbey is inviting the community to donate and become part of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new stained glass window.
Donations to the Saint Alphege Window Appeal can be made online through Bath Abbey’s website at www.bathabbey.org/alphege-appeal. If supporters prefer a more musical approach to donating, they can attend the Abbey’s much-loved ‘Shoppers Carols’ in November and December this year – 50% of the retiring collection will support the Saint Alphege Window Appeal – or buy a ticket to the Jethro Tull concert taking place at the Abbey on 18th December – 100% of the concert’s profits will support the Saint Alphege Window Appeal.
All donations will be deeply appreciated and acknowledged with a message of thanks, regular updates on the project, and invitations to special events at the Abbey. In addition to support from the community, Bath Abbey is also seeking donations from philanthropists and applying for grants from Trusts and Foundations.
The extraordinary beauty of the Saint Alphege Window will be experienced in our own lifetimes and by the generations that follow us, communicating Saint Alphege’s profound message for hundreds of years to come. By donating to this project, supporters will join Bath Abbey on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to create a new stained glass window, shining new light on Saint Alphege – Bath’s local saint.
Something else I didn’t know about. I was a Steward for 7 yrs and did Verger Duties to help out – but I had heard nothing about this!
Also the Twining – I was with Bath Male Choir, earlier this year in Alkmaar celebrating the 80 year Twining. But again heard nothing about these events without your piece.
Thank you Richard – you’re becoming a gold mine of local events.
Did you know that Iford Manor had 3 of its iconic pieces stolen recently? You might fancy a piece on that – such a lovely place.
Regards. Paul N
Bath Abbey now also has a small statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which stands in a niche in a pillar near the SE corner of the building. It was placed there after visitors to the Abbey kept remarking that there wasn’t one.
It is a shame that the stained glass in the North transept of the Abbey is not on view because that part of the building is used as a storage area.
Hmm. This ought to be a competition. I was asked to make a new window for this very place about 20 years ago. The donors were told that the Abbey/DAC would not accept a single central light and that the cost of the whole window would be prohibitive! So we will see.
Maybe the Rector wants one last conspicuous capital project before he retires. Although there are matters left over from the Footprint Project which need attention, such as the lack of choir stalls.