By Theresia Titus
The Diocese of Geraldton’s St Francis Xavier Cathedral has reinstalled stained glass windows at the end of last month, following an act of vandalism in October 2019.
Father Robert Cross, the Diocesan Director of Heritage, outlined to The eRecord the extent of the damaged caused by the vandalism.
“There were six windows that were seriously damaged last year. Three of these were lead light clerestory windows in the nave. Another was one of the four circular Evangelist windows located in the dome space, that of Saint Matthew,” Fr Cross said.
“Two large stained glass windows located in the organ loft sustained the worst damage. These were installed in 1988 by then Bishop Barry Hickey to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Cathedral.
“The two damaged windows in the organ loft were originally installed in 1991 to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the Presentation Sisters in Western Australia,” he continued.
Perth leadlight artist Vaughn Bisschops, who did the conservation work at the Cathedral from 2015 to 2017 was hired to repair the windows.
Mr Bisschops took the opportunity to make some alterations to the two Presentation Sisters’ stained glass windows and make them more “artistically congruent” Cathedral’s Arts and Crafts artistry whilst honouring and maintaining their original symbolic elements.
Fr Cross mentioned that he took the opportunity to speak with Sr Lucy van Kessel PBVM, WA Congregational Leader of the Presentation Sisters, about his wish to make some changes to the windows.
Fr Cross worked together with Sr Lucy and Mr Bisschops to redesign some elements of the windows, allowing for the artist to be expressive.
“The result is quite beautiful and the two windows now side by side in a harmony that just wasn’t present before,” Fr Cross said.