What's the true story behind this stained glass anecdote?

April 12, 2022 8:32 AM

I remember once hearing about a town in (Europe? UK?) that was proud of the stained glass windows in its church, and during WW2 they feared it would be destroyed. Story goes, they dismantled the glass and gave a piece to each townsperson to safeguard, so that they could reconvene after the war and put it back together. A lovely story of hope and community. Is there any truth to it?
posted by egeanin to Society & Culture (4 answers total)

There are two stories like this that I know:

Chartres Cathedral where the glass was removed mainly to the crypt but also some to southern France.

Secondly, Coventry Cathedral where the glass was removed and sent to a different location for safety.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:42 AM on April 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Also, the famous glass dome of the Galeries Lafayette in Paris was disassembled during WWII, but not all pieces could be reassembled:

The Dome has withstood the test of time and only experienced one distinctive event, which was its removal during the Second World War when it was taken apart to prevent it from breaking and showering passers-by with shards of glass during the bombing.

Some of the stained glass panels were never found despite having been carefully numbered. As the missing pieces were replaced by new, entirely white glass, the Dome is therefore not exactly the same as at its origin.

posted by wenestvedt at 10:30 AM on April 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Could you be thinking of the Sint Janskerk in Gouda? It's the longest church in the Netherlands and well-known for its stained-glass windows, which were removed in 1939 in anticipation of the war. I haven't been able to find out if the anecdote of townspeople hiding the windows is associated with the Janskerk, but it might give you a point to start searching.
posted by neushoorn at 10:59 AM on April 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

On a walking tour of York, England, we were told that the stained glass was removed from York Minster Cathedral during WWII, and stored beneath the walls of the city. It was later learned that the Germans avoided bombing the Cathedral, preferring to use it as a navigation aid.
posted by dws at 4:58 PM on April 12, 2022 [1 favorite]