Abstract

When Christian chapels were first built within British secular institutions such as
Great Ormond Street, they utilised the tradition of using stained glass to create
images of Christian narrative. Due to the association of stained glass with British
Christian churches, this research asks can stained glass continue to be used to
create narrative in such places or are other forms of artworks in glass more
appropriate?
Some of the formally Christian chapels are being adapted to become spaces
used by people of different faiths and those of no faith. The terms used to
describe these places are various. This study uses the term quiet room, as it is
inclusive, rather than prayer room, which implies an act of faith, or multi-faith
space that implies it is only for the practice of a religion. When referring to a
space or study that uses a different term, that will be used as appropriate.
This thesis includes case studies of four potential methods of art glass fabrication
used in sacred spaces, in order to understand how they might affect the use of
the space. A second set of case studies analyses the use of glass and imagery in
institutional multi-faith quiet rooms and discusses how glass is being used. Two
practice-based case studies explore the way in which, as a stained glass artist, I
design windows for sacred and secular spaces using knowledge acquired from
the previous case studies.
The case studies examining quiet rooms show glass continues to be used to
enhance the spaces for the multi-faith situation. From this and practice based
case studies it is suggested that despite the link with Christian churches, glass
artworks can be used effectively in quiet rooms if designed appropriately. This
thesis considers the use of natural imagery in quiet rooms and concludes that
light is of special interest both as a source of natural imagery as well as in its
relationship with glass. This thesis aims to be of interest to those involved in the
commissioning of and the artists creating new glass artworks in such spaces.