text: stained glass in liverpool cathedral there are two cathedrals in liverpool , both of which contain notable stained glass . this article refers to the stained glass in the anglican cathedral , rather than the roman catholic liverpool metropolitan cathedral . the stained glass in liverpool cathedral all dates from the 20th century . the designs were planned by a committee working in conjunction with the architect of the cathedral , giles gilbert scott , with the intention of forming an integrated scheme throughout the cathedral . a number of stained glass designers were involved in the scheme , but the major contributors came from james powell and sons ( whitefriars glass ) , in particular j. w. brown , james hogan , and carl edwards . the subjects portrayed in the windows are numerous and diverse . they include scenes and characters from the old and new testaments , evangelists , church fathers , saints , and laymen , some famous , others more humble . the windows in the lady chapel celebrate the part that women have played in christianity . the designs in the windows at the ends of the cathedral are based on canticles , the east window on the te deum laudamus , and the west window on the benedicite . the earlier designs are dark , but the later windows are much brighter and more colourful . much of the glass was damaged by bombing in the second world war . the windows replacing them were based on the originals , but often using simpler and more colourful designs . history the foundation stone of liverpool cathedral was laid on 19 july 1904 , and it was completed in 1979 . giles gilbert scott won the competition to design the cathedral , and a stained glass committee under the chairmanship of sir frederick radcliffe was established to organise the design of the stained glass in the windows . the architect worked with the committee initially to decide on " the main lines on which the design of the window should be based and the extent to which is to be of clear glass or coloured " . the committee then decided on the subjects to be depicted and , in discussion with the stained glass artist , agreed on the details of the design ; scott was concerned from the outset that " the windows should not detract from the architecture " . the committee continued to work during the construction of the cathedral under a series of chairmen , whose discussions were often very detailed . the oldest windows in the cathedral are dark in colour , but with changes in manufacturing techniques from the 1930s , the later windows are much brighter and more colourful . description lady chapel the lady chapel was the earliest part of the cathedral to be built . there was a competition in 1907 to design the windows , which was won by james powell and sons , who commissioned j. w. brown as designer . brown had worked for powell 's until 1886 and then worked freelance , but from 1891 he was " the firm 's preferred designer for prestigious projects " . as the chapel is dedicated to st mary , they are based on the role that women have played in the history of christianity . running through all the windows is a scroll containing the words of the magnificat . on the north side are holy women from the british isles , and on the south side are mainly saints commemorated in the prayer book . the lady chapel was damaged by bombing on 6 september 1940 , and all the glass had to be replaced . the work was undertaken by james hogan , who used simplified adaptations of the original designs . following hogan 's death in 1948 the work was continued by carl edwards ; the resulting windows are much brighter than the originals . the windows at the rear of the chapel and on the staircase were donated by the girls ' friendly society , and were designed by brown . known as the " noble women " windows , they depict women who have made major contributions to society , including elizabeth fry , grace darling , and kitty wilkinson . ambulatory and chapter house the four windows in the ambulatory are the only designs in the cathedral by burlison and grylls , each depicting two saints from a nation of the british isles . on the steps leading to the chapter house is the only window in the cathedral by c. e. kempe and company . it commemorates the woodward family , who were local corn merchants between 1803 and 1915 , and includes biblical references to corn and harvest . the chapter house was donated by local freemasons as a memorial to their members lost in the first world war . the windows were made by morris & co. and designed by henry , reflecting the interests and traditions of the freemasons . the windows were damaged in the second world war and repaired by james powell and sons . east window the east window , designed by brown , dominates the east end of the cathedral , rising above the reredos , and is based on the theme of the te deum laudamus . at the top of the window is the risen christ , and around and below are members of the heavenly choir . under this are four lancet windows , each representing one of the communities praising god . the left window represents ' the company of the apostles ' , with saint raphael at the top . below are fourteen figures ; the twelve apostles , excluding judas iscariot but including saint matthias , with saint paul and saint barnabas . the next window commemorates ' the goodly fellowship of the apostles ' . at the top is saint michael , with fifteen figures below . these include isaiah , elijah , john the baptist , saint athanasius , saint augustine , john wycliffe , thomas cranmer , and john wesley . the third window represents ' the noble army of martyrs ' , with archangel gabriel at the top . below are fifteen christian martyrs , starting with saint stephen . underneath are zechariah and the holy innocents , saint alban , saint oswald , and saint boniface . at the bottom are figures representing martyrs from madagascar , africa , melanesia , and china . the lancet window on the right commemorates ' the holy church throughout all the world ' , with an angel , possibly uriel , at the top . underneath are various representations : king alfred as a warrior , dante as a poet , fra angelico as a painter , the musician j. s. bach , the scientist isaac newton , and the physician thomas linacre . other figures commemorate law , commerce , scholarship , and architecture . also included are christopher columbus and francis drake . choir aisles there are four main windows in the choir aisles , two on each side , and they are concerned with the four gospels . the windows on the north side are original , but those on the south side were destroyed by bombing and were renewed . in the renewal , the central mullion of these windows was widened , and the design of the glass was simplified and made more vibrant . each window , known by its predominant colour , shows the author of the gospel at the top with his symbol . below are figures linked with the subject matter of the gospel . the windows on the north side are by brown , the left window , the sapphire window , represents saint matthew and shows a depiction of the nativity on one side , and the epiphany on the other . the ' gold ' window commemorates saint luke and shows the feeding of the five thousand , and the raising of jairus ' daughter . the windows on the south side are by hogan . the ruby window represents saint john and includes biblical scenes together with the old testament figures of daniel , ezekiel , jonah , and job . saint mark is in the emerald window , with scenes of the baptism of jesus and the transfiguration . also included are the disciples saint simon and saint andrew , and the old testament figures , noah , zechariah , enoch , and malachi . at the east ends of the aisles are rose windows by brown . the window in the north aisle relates to " journeys across the sea and undertaken in faith " , namely moses crossing the red sea , saint paul 's journey to rome , saint columba planting a cross on iona , and missionaries of the melanesian mission landing in the solomon islands . the images in the rose window in the south aisle show instances of god 's power being demonstrated through water , namely noah holding a model of the ark , jesus calming the disciples in a storm , jesus walking on water , and saint paul after his shipwreck in malta . central space the windows on the north and south sides of the central space were designed by hogan ; each includes three tall lancet windows topped by a rose window . the area of glass in each window is 1 , 800 square foot ( 170 m2 ) , the sill is 51 feet ( 15 . 5 m ) above the level of the floor , and the top of the rose window is 156 feet ( 47 . 5 m ) above floor level . the north window shows figures and themes from the old testament , with moses with the ten commandments in the rose window . below the figures include adam and eve , noah , solomon , prophets , and important characters from israelite history . the south window depicts characters and scenes from the new testament . the holy trinity is depicted in the rose window , below which are depictions of events including the crucifixion and the ascension , together with a variety of saints . the war memorial chapel forming the northeast transept has as its themes the aftermath of the first world war , sacrifice and the risen life . the design of its window was started by brown and completed by hogan . it shows suffering and death , including a depiction of the crucifixion . the original window by brown was destroyed by bombing ; the window replacing it shows christ with his arms outstretched in welcome at the top . below are scenes of acts of compassion , including figures such as saint francis . the southwest transept forms the baptistry , and its window by herbert hendrie of whitefriars depicts salvation , particularly through water and healing . the window in the northwest transept has the theme of the church and the state . nave aisles the six windows in the nave aisles deal with historical subjects , all but one designed by carl edwards . the exception is the west window on the south side , designed by william wilson . this is the bishops ' window , and includes nicholas ridley , hugh latimer , and william temple . the middle window is the parsons ' window , and depicts notable clergymen including thomas arnold ( with a rugby ball ) , revd peter green , and revd w. farquhar hook . the layman 's window includes tradesmen who worked on building the cathedral , members of the committees responsible , and a depiction of giles gilbert scott . the musicians ' window contains composers , performers , and conductors who have played a part in the development of anglican church music . the ' window includes hymn writers such as c. f. alexander and cecil spring rice . finally there is the scholars ' window , with theologians , philosophers , and biblical scholars . in the corner is the very revd frederick dwelly , the first dean of the cathedral . west window following scott 's death in 1960 it was decided to change the design of the west end of the cathedral , which had consisted of a small rose window and an elaborate porch . frederick thomas and roger pinkney , who had both worked with scott , produced a simplified design that gave the opportunity for a large west window . created by carl edwards and based on the theme of the benedicite , the window consists of a round - headed window at the top , and three tall lancet windows below . it covers an area of 1 , 600 square foot ( 150 m2 ) , each lancet window being more than 52 feet ( 15 . 8 m ) high . revd noel vincent , the former canon treasurer of the cathedral , states that the top part of the window represents " the risen christ in glory looking down ... in compassion on the world " , and the images beneath depict " all creation united in peace " .