Ely Stained Glass Museum awarded major grant

A conservation and training grant of over £90,000 has been awarded to the Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral by The Julia Rausing Trust.

The money will be used over the next three years to improve the extensive stained glass collection’s care through conservation work and environmental assessment, while providing opportunities for training and public engagement around the care and conservation of stained glass. The museum holds stained glass from the 13th century onwards, from both secular and sacred contexts.

As part of this project, a specialist stained glass conservator will be appointed to undertake a programme of conservation on the stained glass windows within the museum’s collection, with adaptions made within the museum’s gallery to further protect these beautiful, but fragile, works.

The museum will also offer two stained glass conservation internships to help train the next generation of conservators. With stained glass added to the ‘Heritage at Risk’ red list in 2023, offering these opportunities to the next generation is more important than ever. The students will be able to put their skills to use and gain valuable public-facing conservation experience, whilst continuing their studies. In addition to the preventative conservation, heritage and skills training, the project will showcase the specialist conservation processes and techniques for the public, through a variety of means, including online through video, in person with a series of behind-the-scenes tours, and with a variety of engaging learning opportunities.

In addition, children will enjoy special themed events during the school holidays and educational visits inspired by the science of conservation and the environment.

Dr Jasmine Allen, Director and Curator of The Stained Glass Museum, commented, “This grant of over £90,000 from The Julia Rausing Trust will allow the museum to undertake some essential conservation work to our specialist collection, whilst sharing this process with the public too. We are particularly delighted to be able to host conservation placements for trainee conservators as part of the project and offer the unique experience to combine the practicalities of stained glass conservation within our museum, which is based in a Grade I-listed historic setting.”

The grant will also cover an environmental assessment and upgrade to the museum’s environmental monitoring system.

The Julia Rausing Trust was established in memory of the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing, (née Delves-Broughton), who died in 2024. It donates £100 million to charities annually.

Find out more about the Stained Glass Museum at Ely Cathedral via the website.

Main image: Conservation of a stained glass window at the Stained Glass Museum. Photo: © The Stained Glass Museum.