Crown of Glass | Shell Historical Film Archive

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6 ай бұрын

Embark on a journey where architect Frederick Gibberd, artists John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens, engineers, and chemists join forces to conquer the task of creating the largest commissioned stained glass project in church history. This monumental stained glass masterpiece is a testament to the collective efforts of visionaries and innovators, offering a captivating blend of artistry and engineering excellence.
In the 1960s, Liverpool saw the ambitious construction of two cathedrals, each with its own distinctive character. The Anglican cathedral adhered to tradition, while the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King embraced bold modernity.
Architect Frederick Gibberd envisioned the Cathedral of Christ the King as a circular structure with a concrete and stained glass tower, entrusting the artistic vision to John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens. Reyntiens, a seasoned stained glass artist, faced the challenge of adapting to innovative methods, utilizing thick glass and reinforced concrete.
Together with Piper, Reyntiens crafted a design featuring three vibrant zones of colored light, symbolizing a trinity of blue, yellow, and red. This transformation required a reduction in concrete usage, presenting a significant engineering challenge.
The primary obstacle was finding a material that could effectively bond glass to glass, withstanding even hurricane-force winds. A dedicated team of engineers and chemists embarked on extensive research, resulting in the development of an industrial epoxy resin mix. This mixture incorporated epoxy-coated fiberglass strands, providing reinforcement akin to steel in concrete.
The artists meticulously designed full-scale cartoons for each window, with panels measuring 12 feet in width and 1 inch (3.6 meters) in thickness. These panels were cast, glazed, and assembled. The glass was carefully positioned, and a layer of epoxy resin was used to secure them. Finally, the stained glass panels were permanently fixed in place.
This remarkable project not only pushed the boundaries of architectural and artistic innovation but also stands as the largest commissioned stained glass project in church history. It was a testament to the collaborative efforts of architects, artists, engineers, technologists, and craftspeople, marking a historic fusion of artistry and engineering brilliance.
For more information about Shell’s Historic Film Archive please contact: filmservices@shell.com
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Shell’s surprising and captivating Historic Film Archive dates from 1934 and covers a rich mix of topics from technology, science and engineering to craftsmanship, motorsport and travelogue.
The Shell Film Unit, responsible for the content, was a highly celebrated part of Britain’s Documentary Movement. Key figures from that movement were involved, including: Jack Beddington, Edgar Anstey, Arthur Elton, John Grierson, Kay Mander, Stuart Legg and Douglas Gordon.
Its films were wide reaching, often screened in cinemas and through the non-theatric film distribution circuit, which brought film to educational establishments and organisations across the UK. While many films covered technological themes related to Shell’s activities, others were entirely unrelated and served purely to educate the general public.
As Shell innovated in technologies that would provide oil and gas products for the world, the Shell Film Unit also innovated in the technological advancement of film, incorporating graphics and different forms of animation as early as the 1930s.
During WW2 the Shell Film Unit was co-opted into war effort, making films for the Ministry of Information’s film division. Its prowess in technological documentary suited the MoI’s need for technical training films.
While the name and the medium has changed many times over the years, the documentary tradition lives on at Shell. Its contemporary film team is part of Shell’s multi-disciplinary in-house agency, Creative Solutions. It continues making award-winning factual content that informs and educates the public, now usually released on social media platforms.

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@shell 6 ай бұрын

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