NEW CHAPTER FOR COVENTRY CATHEDRAL'S EXCEPTIONAL MEDIEVAL GLASS COLLECTION AS WORLD MONUMENTS FUND PARTNERSHIP COMES TO A CLOSE

World Monuments Fund (WMF) partnership with Coventry Cathedral comes to a close as the outstanding collection of medieval stained glass becomes accessible to the public.

United Kingdom — November 9, 2026: World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Coventry Cathedral have recently completed a project cataloguing the cathedral’s collection of medieval stained glass, continuing a partnership that began with the cathedral’s inclusion on the 2012 World Monuments Watch. Thousands of stained-glass fragments have been brought together for the first time in over a decade, making this important collection accessible for visitors and researchers.

The Cathedral of St Michael was largely destroyed during the Blitz on 14 November 1940, making it the only British cathedral to be destroyed during the Second World War. The surviving ruins were retained as a symbol of remembrance and reconciliation. As Coventry prepares to mark the 86th anniversary of the bombing, one of Britain’s largest collections of loose medieval stained-glass fragments enters a new chapter. During November, a curated collection of the medieval stained glass will be accessible digitally on the Bloomberg Connects App as part of Remembrance Season, with a view to creating a permanent digital archive in the future following Coventry Cathedral’s Building Hope project.

The latest phase of the project, led by WMF, focused on the preservation of Coventry Cathedral’s internationally significant collection of largely 15th century medieval stained glass, which is comparable in style and quality to contemporaneous glass in Canterbury Cathedral, York Minster and Westminster Abbey. The project assessed the storage conditions of the collection, identified immediate collections care needs, and creates opportunities for future academic research and wider public engagement.

Attributed to John Thornton of Coventry, one of England's most important medieval glaziers, the cathedral's medieval stained glass offers valuable insights into medieval craftsmanship, religious imagery, and the connections between Britain’s other medieval cathedrals. Between the Reformation and the mid-19th century, medieval glass was used to create fragmentary windows, and at Coventry, windows were created for the side lights of the apse. During the Second World War, these fragmentary windows, together with the medieval glass in the clerestory windows, were packed into thirty wooden crates and taken to the rectory at Hampton Lucy, near Stratford-upon-Avon, where they stayed in the cellars until 1957.

The collection comprises approximately 12,000 medieval stained-glass fragments depicting a variety of religious subjects, including scenes from the Passion of Christ and depictions of saints and the twelve Apostles. Among the most distinctive are donor figures of lay men and women shown kneeling in prayer, as well as heraldic shields featuring intricate monograms and rebuses. Although no longer in their original locations, these fragments offer a glimpse into the individuals who helped shape the medieval cathedral.

The WMF project built on an earlier phase of works completed in November 2012, during which the fragments were removed from storage for documentation and conservation. The first phase of work also included the production of a detailed catalogue and iconographic analysis by medieval glass expert, Heather Gilderdale Scott. Following conservation, the collection was returned to three storage areas within the cathedral, where the majority of them remained for more than a decade.

In this new phase, the glass was moved into new bespoke cabinets to improve storage conditions. Each tray was assigned a unique number and location and photographed. This information was entered into a digital record, creating a comprehensive inventory of the collection.

Laura Atkinson, Conservator, said: “Coventry Cathedral’s collection of medieval stained glass, which includes exquisitely executed examples of 15th-century painting, is of international importance. Yet it has received little scholarly study. This project is a crucial step towards making the collection accessible to the public and securing the academic attention it merits.”

For the first time in more than a decade, the collection has been brought together in one location. Rather than marking the end of the project, this lays the foundation for new opportunities. The photographic record provides a basis for new scholarship on the collection. Improved access and the digital record will allow the collection to be shared with cathedral visitors and wider audiences. A complete record of every tray means the collection can be managed and safeguarded for future generations.

Emma Sweeney, Projects Manager, World Monuments Fund Britain: “Coventry Cathedral’s medieval stained glass is a remarkable survivor. The Cathedral’s enduring role as a symbol of peace and reconciliation reflects WMF’s belief in the role of heritage to support post-conflict recovery. Together, the ruins and the surviving glass tell a powerful story of resilience, with much still to be uncovered.”

Andrew Hines, Head of Heritage and Interpretation, Coventry Cathedral said: “The work of the World Monuments Fund has, for the first time, given Coventry Cathedral the opportunity to think about these remarkable fragments through the lenses of conservation, research and public engagement. Once part of the windows of the medieval Cathedral of St Michael, these 12,000 fragments have been woven into the story of Coventry for centuries. As we enter the season of Remembrance of the 86th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz, a time when we reflect on those things which are fragile and find fragments of hope, it feels particularly fitting to share them again. While too fragile for public display, the fragments can now be explored digitally through a limited time public viewing on the Cathedral's Bloomberg Connects app, allowing people in Coventry, across the nation and

around the world to discover their stories. We hope this will grow into a permanent digital archive as part of our wider Building Hope project. These fragments have so many stories to tell, and this marks a new chapter in our relationship with them as a Cathedral and as a city."

Project Background

World Monuments Fund has a longstanding involvement in the conservation of Coventry Cathedral (2012 Watch). Alongside its support for the medieval stained glass, WMF previously supported the conservation of the cathedral ruins. Beginning in June 2012, the programme included repairs to damaged stonework and mortar, stabilisation of the north and east walls, and replacement of concrete wall capping with lead. The work was completed in March 2015.