A STUNNING piece of Victorian artistry has been brought back to life at Salisbury Cathedral after an intricate two-year conservation project.

The cathedral’s famous ‘Angels’ window – designed by renowned pre-Raphaelite artists William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones – has now been returned to its place above the south Quire Aisle, where it will be re-dedicated during a special Evensong service on May 7.

Standing at 6.5 metres tall, the striking stained-glass window was removed in February 2024 after years of wear caused by water ingress, condensation and deterioration of painted details.

The £120,000 project was supported by several charitable trusts and donors.

Now, following painstaking work by the cathedral’s expert glazing team, its colour, clarity and detail have been dramatically restored.

Originally created in 1879 by Morris & Co, the window was commissioned as a memorial to Captain George Townsend by his sister Barbara, an artist who lived in the Cathedral Close.

It depicts two scenes – ‘Ministering Angels’ and ‘Praising Angels’ – and is considered a significant example of large-scale work by two of Britain’s most influential artists.

The conservation process involved detailed cleaning, careful repairs to the leadwork, and the recreation of lost painted details using original chalk drawings as reference.

New protective glazing and oak frames have also been installed to safeguard the window for the future.

Head glazier Sam Kelly, who led the project, said: “This has been a challenging project for all of us, but one that has given us the opportunity of being up close and personal with this very special work of art, allowing us to gain an insight into how the Morris studios worked and some of the problems that they experienced.

“We have learned a lot about the history and execution of this window during the conservation process. It is pleasing to know that the work we have carried out will now allow the window to be enjoyed by generations to come.”

The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, Dean of Salisbury, added: “The cathedral team have restored the contours, clarity and colour of this nineteenth-century masterpiece through their painstaking work.

“We are very proud that the artistry of the William Morris studio has been preserved and enhanced with such conspicuous contemporary skill. Sunlight will illuminate Burne-Jones’s angels once more, and their rare beauty will lift our spirits and rekindle our hope for many more years.”