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  -[ Tyneside Industrial Heritage Window

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This 3-light window is situated on the south side. It replaces one of the windows damaged by the bombing of Newcastle in World War II.

Industrial Heritage Window
[Click to enlarge]

The window was unveiled and blessed by Bishop Kevin Dunn on November 26th 2006, Christ the King Sunday. The window, made by the internationally renowned artist Joseph Nuttgens, is a tribute to the men and women of Tyneside who through their industrial achievements helped put the region on the map.

Before the unveiling and blessing a short address was given by Sir Terence Harrison, former chief executive of Rolls Royce, who has lived and worked on Tyneside for the past fifty years.

In the left pane, coal mining is the first skill represented, followed by a welder, a fitter and then a woman working a lathe at Parsons during World War ll, and finally a paintress decorating a Mailing pot.

The middle pane depicts the working men of Tyneside, weary, coming from the Shipyard and the magnificence of their achievement literally hanging over them.The left hand window shows the toil and diverse skills of Tyneside's workforce.

The right hand window shows the inventiveveness and vision of the men who gave birth to Tyneside's engineering industry including George and Robert Stephenson, Swan Hunter, Vickers and Sir W. G. Armstrong. Depicted are images such as a railway locomotive, a marine engine, the Tyne and Gateshead Millennium Bridges, a steam turbine and the electric lamp.

Left Light  Centre Light  Right Light

Light descends from the "hand of God" at the top and two of the Northern Saints are featured: Bede and Benet Biscop, who brought study, books and learning and stained glass windows and stone buildings to the region.

In the bottom of the window are words taken from the hymn by the late and well loved Monsignor Nichols, Diocesan priest and poet. The words "Take all that daily toil..." and "...each hopeful dream" encapsulate the sanctifying of human labour which the window stands for.

The idea for the window came from two members of the cathedral congregation, Peter Lockton,CBE and his wife Lucy who provided the artist with a detailed brief and sponsored the entire project.

About the artist...
Joseph Nuttgens  Joseph Nuttgens studied at the Central School of Art and the Royal College of Art. After teaching in schools, art colleges and at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, he came back to stained glass through working for Patrick Reyntiens as manager of his studio between 1978 - 82, involved mainly on John Piper's windows for Robinson College, Cambridge, and the Benjamin Britten Memorial in Aldeburgh Church. Later, in his own studio, he made the John Betjaman Memorial window for Farnborough Church (Berks) to John Piper's design. Since 1982 he has designed and made many stained glass windows - for large church projects, including restorations, for schools, offices, as screens for interiors and for intimate house windows.

His most notable works include Durham Cathedral's Millennium Window and 'The Fire Restoration' Window in The Royal Private Chapel of Windsor Castle (based on a theme chosen by Prince Philip).

     

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