By Anders Anglesey
York Minster is welcoming the return parts of the world’s largest expansive medieval stained glass window today after it had been taken down for preservation work.
The 600-year-old East Window was removed in 2008 in an effort to preserve the historically significant artwork.
The stained glass windows depict the hard-held religious beliefs of people who lived during the middle ages.
Restoration each of the 108 panels required hours of dedication to bring back to their former glory and reflect the symbology and religious feelings of medieval England.
Artist, John Thornton, worked on creating the stain glassed window between the years of 1405 and 1408 and is the oldest piece of art in the country to have a credited artist.
Sarah Brown, Director of the York Glazier’s Trust, was hopeful that the new protective glazing could extend the durability of the glass for a longer period of time.
She said: The protection offered by the new UV resistant glazing system could extend the life of the stained glass well into the next century and hopefully beyond.
“This will mean that Thornton’s astonishing work will be available for many future generations of visitors to York Minster.”