Spring Newsletter ’24

Redecoration

Having completed the project to restore and protect our world famous stained glass windows, it became apparent just how shabby Church looked, with its pealing paint, and cracked plaster. Having spent many weeks on the North side, where we found part of the plaster ceiling had become dangerously loose, the South side is proving much quicker. Scaffolding will soon be erected over the Chancel to paint the ceiling blue, with gold stars. It is not uncommon to find stars on Chancel ceilings (as at St Olave’s). Indeed, the narrow strip beyond the High Altar is pale blue with painted, and faded stars. The plan is for the whole of the Nave and Chancel ceiling to be a medieval shade of “Azurite” blue, with medieval design stars on the Chancel ceiling in gold-leaf.

The smallest stars are recorded as having once been painted on the North Tower Pier (no longer visible), the medium sized stars feature in the background of the donor panels at the bottom of The Pricke of Conscience.

William Hessle with his Mother and Father beneath the centre of The Prick of Conscience Window which he gave to the Church in about 1420 - he was made Barron of the Exchequer by Henry V in 1421 when Henry came to York, and Emma Roughton had her visions here.

Higher up the window: the stars falling from the Heavens - the upper-most large star on the blue sample board opposite.

A 14th century star found in the uppermost tracery light at the top of the Window. This is the position in which one would expect to see God seated in Majesty, if the top had not been cut off the window in 1471. Indeed, Henry Johnson claims to have seen God’s legs still there in 1670.

Donations towards the cost of painting the stars are very welcome Please contact Dr Robert Richards by clicking here...

God: behind The High Altar, seated on a Gold Throne. This image is almost certainly similar to how God would have appeared at the top of the Prick of Conscience Window before 1470.