Minster Glass

A man with a historic mission, dedicated to preserving the magnificent artistry of the medieval glaziers of York for future generations.

A fascinating and insightful view into the world of the world-famous stained glass windows of York Minster, and of those who maintain them. It is also a view into the life of the head glazier, Peter Gibson, of whom it could be said that he lived a medieval life in modern times. Born within throwing distance of the Cathedral, Gibson remained living and working there for the rest of his life. Here he explains the work of the York Glaziers Trust shortly after the terrible fire of 1984.

This Calendar Special was made just 18 months after the devastating fire in the south transept in July 1984 that caused £2.25m of damage, including cracking to the rose window in about 40,000 places. The fire isn’t mentioned in this programme – it had been covered in another Calendar Special the previous year – although the repair to the rose window would have been at the heart of their work at this time, completed in 1988. Peter Gibson could see the cathedral from the window of the Georgian mews cottage where he was brought up. Among his many honours, including an OBE and MBE, in 1989 the President of Italy bestowed on Gibson the very rare award, for a non-Italian, of the order of merit of the Italian Republic.