Stained Glass Museum

About the museum

The Stained Glass Museum was founded in 1972 to rescue stained glass windows threatened with destruction, mostly from redundant Anglican churches. It first opened to the public on 30 March 1979 in the north triforium of Ely Cathedral. Worries about having only one staircase and no second fire exit led to a move to the south triforium, paid for by a 25th Anniversary Appeal, and the museum reopened there in April 2000.

The collection began with rescued windows and has grown through acquisitions and loans, including a large window from the Royal Collection. It now covers stained glass from the medieval period to the present day, together with designs, tools and materials. The whole collection has been awarded Designated Status as the national collection of stained glass. The museum describes itself as the only museum in the UK dedicated to stained glass.

Among its notable objects are the Hadzor ‘Life of the Virgin’ window, a 14th-century work regarded as one of the finest English examples of its period, which was rescued in 1976, and ‘Christ in Glory’, the largest complete window in the collection, made in 1904. A 1927 panel by Harry Clarke, a 13th-century panel of a king from Soissons Cathedral and a 2017 panel by Kehinde Wiley acquired in 2021 show the range of the collection. The gallery is reached by a spiral staircase from the cathedral’s south-west transept.

Highlights

• The only museum in the UK dedicated to stained glass
• Designated national collection spanning the 13th century to the present
• Hadzor ‘Life of the Virgin’, a 14th-century window rescued in 1976
• Panel by Harry Clarke (1927) and a recent work by Kehinde Wiley
• Set in the triforium of Ely Cathedral
• Workshops in glass fusing, painting and copper foiling

Permanent exhibition

• Permanent gallery – A display of stained glass from the 13th century to the present day, with designs, tools and materials, drawn from the national collection of stained glass.

Founded

1972

Admission & discounts

No advance booking is needed. Free entry for National Art Pass holders, Museums Association members, Friends of Ely Cathedral and Friends of the museum (show the membership card). Joint tickets with Ely Cathedral and the Ely Passport, which covers four heritage sites in Ely, are available, and an annual pass is valid for 12 months from first use.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on an upper level of Ely Cathedral and is reached by a spiral stone staircase of 40 steps with a handrail from the south-west transept. There is no lift, because the cathedral is Grade I listed. A chair is at the top of the stairs and lightweight chairs can be moved around the gallery. An induction hearing loop is at the admission desk and shop. A touch-screen virtual visit on the ground floor and an online virtual tour are available for visitors who cannot manage the stairs, and a downloadable Social Story explains what to expect. There are no toilets in the museum; accessible toilets are on the cathedral’s ground floor in the Processional Way. Visitors who need help on the stairs should contact the museum in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family activities include the SG Minis group for under-5s, Sunrise Stories and craft sessions, and children’s glass fusing workshops. Under-16s are free with a paying adult. The gallery is reached by a spiral staircase of 40 steps.

Getting there & parking

Ely lies on the A10 north of Cambridge. The what3words address is ///spines.cupboards.removals.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

The gift shop sells handmade glass gifts and books on stained glass and can be visited without a museum ticket. There is no café, but cafés in Ely include The Almonry in the cathedral grounds. Large bags are not permitted in the gallery.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit