The Trena Cox Project

It has been such a privilege to be Artist in Residence in this fascinating place. My favourite part of Chester Cathedral is the tranquil Cloister, particularly when it is dappled with colour as sunlight streams through the stained glass. It was there, four years ago, I first noticed stained glass created by Chester artist Trena Cox. Her eight small lights at the south west corner of the Cloister are stunning – I particularly enjoy the serenity of St Ermengild and the wise, thoughtful faces of Ranulf Higden and St Thomas of Canterbury. The richness of the blue, purple, scarlet and gold glass, combined with the quality of Cox’s glass painting, is mesmerising.

I soon discovered Trena Cox was a woman, originally from the Wirral, who made an enduring commitment to Chester and its rich heritage – someone who shared my love for the beautiful city I have called home for the past twenty five years. From that moment, I was determined to tell her story – I firmly believe Trena Cox’s life and work should be celebrated as part of the history of this city and its cathedral.

Initially, I created a map of the locations of her work and challenged myself to visit all sixty eight of these locations. It took me from May 2021 till August 2023 to accomplish this. I have met many people during this journey, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has welcomed me into their parish church and shared their experience of Trena Cox’s stained glass with me. I have made visits across the Diocese of Chester and beyond - Cox’s work can be found throughout the North West and North Wales, with some further afield. I really appreciate the generosity of the many stained glass artists, researchers and conservators who have shared their knowledge with me, and the support and patience of the staff of the Chester Record Office who have helped me with my archival research. My additional fieldwork has taken me to cathedrals, museums, abbeys and pilgrimage sites throughout the length and breadth of this country and, earlier this year, to Dublin to see the astonishing stained glass of artists including Harry Clarke and Wilhelmina Geddes. I have told the story of Trena Cox at talks during the Chester Heritage Festival, Festival of Ideas and Heritage Open Days and I am grateful to everyone who has engaged with this project. For the past year, Cox’s work has been the subject of my postgraduate research at the University of Chester.

This October sees the opening of Trena Cox: Reflections 100, an exhibition which celebrates the life and work of this remarkable woman. We will tell the story of her early commissions at Chester Cathedral and explore the history and techniques of stained glass through an installation specially created by Recclesia Stained Glass. The exhibition will highlight the vibrant St Christopher window Cox made for the Slype of Chester Cathedral in 1927 – an image full of glorious colour and detail! Professional artists will exhibit work inspired by Trena Cox’s vibrant stained glass and there will be work on display representing the community workshops which have taken place during the project.

I am very grateful to the dedicated and hardworking team who have helped me produce this exhibition. I hope visitors to the exhibition will enjoy discovering more about Trena Cox and the art of stained glass.