Dr George Rawson discusses the Glasgow School of Art in the early 20th Century. Alf Webster attended Glasgow School of Art between 1903 and 1907 as an evening student and the talk examines Webster’s student career against the background of the school’s educational regime during the period 1899-1915 when it was one of the leading schools in Europe.

Dr George Rawson, fine art and design librarian at the Glasgow School of Art 1977-2006, is an art historian with a special interest in 19th century British art education the Glasgow Style and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Peter will talk about the wider use of historic churches for an increasingly secular community. He will discuss how to blend a sustainable future use whilst still understanding the historic nature of the building and respecting the former spiritual use. It is important that future generations are able to see the history of their communities embedded in the fabric of the building. No building tells the story of a place like the parish church does.

Peter Aiers joined the Churches Conservation Trust in 2007 and set up the Regeneration Taskforce to find solutions to complex historic church problems and enable more community involvement in the care and maintenance of our wonderful portfolio. He became Director for the South East in 2012 with a specific responsibility for overall Operational Management. Peter has raised well over £12m since being with the CCT and has led on several innovative projects such as the award winning All Souls Bolton, Champing and St Peter and the Old Black Lion.

G(l)azing into the world of Stained Glass Conservation, will give an introduction to the method and techniques behind the conservation and restoration of 19 & 20th century stained glass. A review of the present stained glass conservation field will be discussed, as will future hopes be considered in order for Scotland to preserve its own unique stained glass heritage.

Meredith Macbeth is a self employed stained/leaded glass maker and conservator based outside of Edinburgh. Her Master’s degree from the University of Lincoln studied the Conservation of Historic Objects and after working for several years in stone and architectural
conservation, she was drawn to the world of stained glass where conservation and craft are so closely entwined. Meredith has worked in several stained glass studios in the United States along with completing an internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Meredith currently works with the Scottish Stained Glass Symposium and Trust, which is undertaking the mammoth task of recording all Scottish stained glass and developing their online database.

David Robertson describes how Alf Webster’s great south transept window, currently awaiting restoration, contains imagery to suggest that William Blake could have been an inspiration both illustratively and thematically for the artist.

David Robertson is the Director of Four Acres Charitable Trust, the owners of Cottiers and a Trustee of Websters in the West End of Glasgow, soon to be completed by its sister charity FACT THREE.

Prof. Hume discusses the career of Glaswegian architect John Honeyman, the man responsible for the design of numerous ecclesiastical buildings around Glasgow, including Lansdowne Church, the venue for our conference, now a venue secured by the Four Acres Charitable Trust.

Professor John Hume OBE is an Honorary Professor at both the Universities of Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was a lecturer in Economic and Industrial History at the University of Strathclyde. After a career with Historic Scotland as an Inspector of Scotland’s Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, he eventually retired as Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings in 1999. Prof. Hume is currently a Chairman for the the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historic Monuments and an Advisor to the Church of Scotland General Trustees Fabric Committee. He lives in Glasgow and was instrumental in setting up many local heritage organisation such as the Forth & Clyde Canal Society and has written major reference books on Glasgow’s Industrial Heritage. John is the Patron of Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

Gordon R Urquhart is the Postgraduate Course Director with Historic Environment Scotland. Gordon is the author of A Notable Ornament:Lansdowne Church – an icon of Victorian Glasgow.

Of the countless new churches to emerge in mid-Victorian Glasgow, few stoked as much controversy as Lansdowne United Presbyterian. The author of A Notable Ornament examines the events and personalities surrounding the construction of the Kelvinbridge landmark, and chart its early history through to 1915 and Alf Webster’s windows.