"Topping-out" ceremony for York Minster's North Quire pinnacles

Stonemasons raise a toast after the “topping-out” ceremony to mark the completion of the North Quire pinnacles Stonemasons raise a toast after the “topping-out” ceremony to mark the completion of the North Quire pinnacles

A STAINED-glass window hidden for nearly 15 years will soon be revealed again following the completion of painstaking restoration work at York Minster.

Yesterday saw the Acting Dean and Canon of the Minster, the Rev Glynn Webster, join craftsman from the Minster Stoneyard high on the roof of the North Quire to mark the “topping-out” of the stone pinnacles.

The completion of the North Quire pinnacles allows the conserved St William Window to be revealed for the first time in almost 15 years. Rebecca Thompson, superintendent of works, said: “This has been an interesting project over the last three years and in an area that not many people have had a chance to view the craftsmanship.”

According to Minster historians, The St William Window is one of the most important pieces of medieval stained glass in the world, showing the miracles of St William of York. It was created by John Thornton around the beginning of the 15th century.

Comments(6)

Garrowby Turnoff says...
9:36am Wed 19 Sep 12

15 years to repair a roof!

Must be the same builders we had.

Blimp says...
10:44am Wed 19 Sep 12

Brilliant, love it! More please.

StainedGlassDiva says...
2:44pm Wed 19 Sep 12

? the St. William window has not been hidden for 15 years. It was conserved 4-5 years ago and has been perfectly visible since then.

Platform9 says...
5:01pm Wed 19 Sep 12

I said "yer buy 1 yer get 1 free"

Alf Garnett says...
5:57pm Wed 19 Sep 12

StainedGlassDiva wrote:
? the St. William window has not been hidden for 15 years. It was conserved 4-5 years ago and has been perfectly visible since then.
Yes. I think that Canon Webster has it about right.

Firedrake says...
9:46am Thu 20 Sep 12

The conservation and restoration of the glass was indeed completed some years ago, but the scaffolding had to remain up for various reasons, concealing the window (in whole or in part) from the outside. Internally, it has been visible since completion.

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