Renowned Chester stained glass artist explored in Cathedral exhibition

An exhibition and programme of activities celebrating the life of Trena Cox, a twentieth-century woman stained glass artist from Chester opened at Chester Cathedral on Monday 7 October, running until Friday 8 November.

Cox’s artwork adorns churches across Chester, the northwest, north Wales and further afield, and despite being well-known in stained glass and decorative arts circles, the legacy of this important artist has been all but forgotten in the public realm.  

The exhibition which has been curated by artist Aleta Doran in partnership with Chester Cathedral, the Grosvenor Museum, University of Chester, The Friends of the Countess of Chester Country Park, and Recclesia Stained Glass - will share the newly researched story of Trena Cox’s impressive career in an accessible and engaging way, with commissioned art from local woman artists and community groups responding to her glass in a variety of mediums displayed around the building.

Trena Cox’s artwork was commissioned and installed at Chester Cathedral in the 1920s as part of a daring reinvigoration project undertaken by the then Dean Bennett as part of his efforts to make the Cathedral ‘open and free’ to all people. Today, we are finally able to appreciate the significance of Cox’s work in our Cloister thanks to the research Doran has undertaken – and look forward to sharing the artist’s inspiring life and work through this exhibition, and accompanying workshops, activities, and events.

Chester Cathedral’s Artist in Residence, and Project lead for Trena Cox: Reflections 100, Aleta Doran says “Trena Cox made a huge contribution to this area through her vibrant stained glass, and as an advocate for the preservation of Chester’s heritage. Her story is part of the story of Chester, the city in which she lived and worked for over fifty years. Chester Cathedral played a key role in the development of Trena Cox’s extraordinary career, so it is exciting to be able to hold the exhibition and other events here.”

As a result of Doran's research, the significance of the Cox windows has been raised, resulting in gracious funding from the Couch Charitable Trust to undertake conservation work on her St Christopher Window in Chester Cathedral's Slype, one of the most important windows in Cox's early career. This conservation work has been undertaken by Recclesia Stained Glass. 

Chester Cathedral is one of twenty-five successful applicants to the UK Share Prosperity Fund – receiving £27,000 of funding for the exhibition and programme of activities. Additional funding to support the project has been graciously received from Councillor Simon Eardley, The Ursula Keys Trust, The Megan Gwynne-Jones Trust, and the Couch Charitable Trust. 

A plethora of activities and talks are planned to take place as part of the project, including an exciting Trena Cox Symposium on Friday 25 October to include the research into Trena Cox that has taken place and the role of women in heritage skills in the northwest today. 'Pay what you can' tickets make this event more affordable for those who would not usually attend and could open the door to young people and women wanting to explore heritage skills as a viable career path or as an interest. 

For full details of the exhibition and its associated programme of activities, visit chestercathedral.com