research, photography & design

Original interpretation of ecclesiastical art in Wales

Stained Glass by John Petts.
April 2023

Stained Glass in Fishguard

Stained Glass in Fishguard is the first book from Sulien Books since the limited-edition book on the medieval tiles at St Davids Cathedral, published in 2019. Fishguard is not far north from St Davids along the coast of Pembrokeshire. Fishguard is well known as the place where the ferry leaves for Ireland, although located up on the hill above the bay and Goodwick (or Harbour Village) where the port is situated. The book differs earlier similar books on these pages as it includes windows from four churches, and a recent work in the town library. The book was produced as part of the work for the Ports, Past and Present project, which has been preoccupied with the history and heritage of the five port towns that currently link Wales and Ireland.

Most of the stained glass in the book is from St Mary's in Fishguard, where the earliest stained glass was made in around 1919, and a pair of windows by John Petts are found at the east and west ends of the church. Work by Clarke's of Dublin can be found in the Catholic church, embodying the connections between Ireland and Wales. Stained glass from the churches at Goodwick (now closed) and at Manorowen is also included.

Stained glass of the Good Samaritan by Joseph Bell of Bristol.
February 2018

Stained Glass at Carmarthen

Following the publication of the guide to the stained glass at the Church of St Peter in Lampeter, the largest Anglican church in Carmarthen, also dedicated to Peter, will shortly have its own guide to all of its stained glass windows. The book has been funded by the Friends of St Peter's together with a bequest from a local teacher, the late Miss Wooloff, and will be launched on the 10 March 2018. The church has some early nineteenth century glass, examples by various Victorian stained glass firms, early twentieth-century windows by three different makers, and two more recent windows by the Welsh artist John Petts.

Stained glass depicting St David by Daniel Bell at Lampeter.
March 2017

Stained Glass at Lampeter

The stained glass at the Church of St Peter in Lampeter now has its first guide to all of its stained glass windows. Funded by the church, a new book by Martin Crampin and John Hammond now describes and illustrates the windows and other features in the church. The book also offers some suggested attributions for hitherto unattributed windows.

Sixteenth-century stained glass of Christ Carrying the Cross at Llanwenllwyfo.
September 2016

Stained Glass at Llanwenllwyfo

Following initial discussions in the summer of 2014, the work of the late J.O. Hughes on the stained glass at Llanwenllwyfo in Anglesey will finally be published this autumn with many full-page colour illustrations. The book has been partly funded by his family in memory of J.O. Hughes and his wife Catherine, and contains illustrations of all of the main pictorial scenes that survive at the church. The stained glass panels came from the collection of the Neave family, and include early sixteenth-century work commissioned for the Charterhouse of Leuven. The book is published with parallel English and Welsh texts.

Stained glass fragemnts at Hafod.
June 2016

Stained Glass at Hafod

As a result of an invitation to talk about the stained glass from Thomas Johnes' collection at Hafod (Cwm Ystwyth), all of the surviving glass is illustrated in a new book. This small publication provides a summarised history of the church and glass, as well as full-page illustrations of all of the main groups of surviving fragments. Most of his glass was devastated by fire in 1807 shortly after being installed at his house, and most of the glass that was brought to the church in 1805 was also lost when the church was burnt out in 1932. The book was launched on 15 June at the Church of St Michael, Eglwys Newydd, Hafod, during a day of talks, walks, and performances exploring the Hafod estate, as part of the Coleridge in Wales Festival.

Catalogue

 

Sulien Books was established in 2014 to publish material relevant to the visual culture of churches, particularly stained glass and the decorative arts of the medieval period. These books were written, illustrated and designed by Martin Crampin, and benefit from over ten years of experience photographing and researching artwork in churches.

Samples

 

Enquiries are welcome about commissioning photography, or producing books, leaflets, postcards and interpretative material such as large displays and signage for your church or historic building. This might be in order to raise funds, or as part of a broader strategy to develop faith tourism through heritage interpretation in order to attract visitors.