In 2012 the Stained Glass Repository received a request from the Catholic church of Our Lady and St Wilfrid of the Hexham and Newcastle diocese for a window to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the church.
The first Catholic mission had been built in 1840 by the Sydney family of Cowpen Hall after the port of Blyth had beome important as a result of the development of coal mining in the surrounding area. A few years later a Miss Sidney provided most of the funding to build the new church of Our Lady and St Wilfrid in Blyth. The new church was supplied with parish priests by the Benedictines of Douai.
The architect was Archibald Dunn and the foundation stone was laid by Fr Allanson of Swinburne on October 10, 1860. Dunn designed the church in a free fourteenth century style and used rock-faced local stone with ashlar dressings and a Welsh slate roof.
Although Masses commenced in 1861, it was only formally opened by Bishop Hogarth on October 22, 1862 and consecrated by Bishop Lindsay on October 20, 1981.
A Millenium project saw three new stained glass windows installed, including the south transept 'rose' window, rebuilt in the 1990s to a new design after previous tracery had failed following a restoration project to repair World War II bomb damage.
The window chosen to celebrate the 150th anniversary was the centre light of the three light crucifixion window from St Augustine's church, Bermondsey, London. It was collected from the Stained Glass Repository, then in Glaziers Hall, London, in June 2012, refurbished and installed by the firm of Traditional Stained Glass and dedicated in August 2012.
The original window from St Augustine's, Bermondsey.
A further request was then made in 2021 for another window. A lancet window in three panels, depicting the Archangel St Michael, and attributed to the designer E. Liddall Armitage, was chosen and agreement in principle was given at the Stained Glass Repository's meeting of October that year.
However, in view of the considerable damage to the the base panel, it was agreed that a cartoon of the proposed repairs should be submitted for approval prior to work commencing. In fact, the then Chairman of the Stained glass Repository Committee, Mr Peter Cormack, prepared a drawing from which a full-size cartoon was drawn up. The resulting restored window reflects well on all concerned.
The interior of Our Lady and St Wilfrid.
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