Moira Forsyth
Moira Forsyth | |
---|---|
Born | 1905 Stafford, Staffordshire, England |
Died | April 1991 (aged 85–86) England |
Nationality | English |
Education | Ceramics training in Stoke-on-Trent, Royal College of Art |
Known for | Stained glass |
Notable work | Stained glass (Norwich Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral, Eton College Chapel) and ceramics |
Movement | Arts and Crafts movement |
Awards | Queen's award for lifelong services to the arts |
Elected | President, Society of Catholic Artists |
Moira Forsyth (1905 – April 1991) was an English
Most of her work life centred on
Personal life
Moira Forsyth was born in 1905 in Stafford, Staffordshire, to Gordon Forsyth. Her father's career took the family to the Manchester area by 1911,[2][3] although they returned to Staffordshire after the First World War.
After training and her professional career in
TO write that no-one ever found an unkind word to say about the Catholic artist Moira Forsyth, who died recently, might suggest a rather bland and insipid personality, writes Winefride Pruden. Nothing would be farther from the truth: she could be trenchant in her opinions and judgements, and her wit was not without a touch of astringency.
— Catholic Herald obituary, 26 April 1991
Education and career
At Stoke-on-Trent, Forsyth studied ceramics in 1921 at the Burslem School of Art, where her father was principal. While there, she also created and exhibited her works, including an exhibition in 1925 at White City Fair, "to worldwide acclaim".[1][2][5][6] Orders began coming in from around the world.[3][6] The following year she opened up her own studio for ceramics design, but due to the 1926 general strike when the kilns were not operating, she needed to close down her work place.[5][7]
She then attended the
During her career she was a member of the International Society of Christian Artists and Society of Catholic Artists member and president.[7]
There are more than 1,000 historical files about Moira Forsyth, dating from 1877 through 1989, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These include family certificates of birth and death (1877 to 1976) and papers directly related to her, including business and family correspondence, applications for commissions or memberships, drawings and sketches, project files, photographs and more.[7]
Works
Forsyth received prestigious commissions for cathedrals as well as for schools and parish churches. She has been described as "one of England's most notable stained glass artists".[9] Her work reflected use of slab glass, cross-hatching and colours of the Arts and Crafts movement.[6]
The Children's Corner (or Chapel) The emphasis is very much on 'creation and the incarnation'. The stained glass by Moira Forsyth, demonstrates the happiness of brought by the birth of Christ who is destined to re-establish the Garden of Eden. The illustrations are very much of the 1930s and show children white children with blond hair and shorts playing in the forests with the angels. The glass was exhibited in the
Royal Academy before being put in place in St Thomas.— Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell summary of their artwork[10]
This is a list of some of her more important works.
Work or place | Location | Type | Notes and references |
---|---|---|---|
All Saints | Snodland | Stained glass | [9] |
Aylesford Priory | Aylesford, near Maidstone, Kent | Stained glass | [9] |
Church of the Holy Family | Heath End, Farnham
|
Stained glass | This church is said to have the largest collection of her work. She made fourteen windows over a period of sixteen years; amongst which is a great Epihany window and a Last Supper window. Forsyth also designed two Lady Chapel windows, which is described here: "one of the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary when he conveyed God’s wish that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and the other shows Mary responding to the angel’s visit." She lived in Farnham and worshiped at this church.[9] |
Emanuel School | Battersea, London | Stained glass | Forsyth collaborated with heraldry expert |
Eton College Chapel | Berkshire | Stained glass | Eight 25 feet (7.6 m) roll of arms windows were created for the college chapel. It was one of her most significant commissions, completed in 1959 after five years of work.[2][4][7] |
Guildford Cathedral | Guildford, Surrey | Stained glass | It was her first significant commission and was completed for Sir Edward Maufe.[1][2][7] |
Norwich Cathedral | Norwich, Norfolk | Stained glass | The Benedictine window, completed in 1963, was one of her most significant commissions.[2][4][7] The work was covered in John Harries book, Discovering Stained Glass, which highlighted how she painted the lettering and her detailed figures.[11] |
St Botolph's | Chevening | Stained glass | [9] |
St Columbia's | Pont Street, London | Stained glass | [7] |
St John's | Higham | Stained glass | [9] |
St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church "Christ in Glory" mural | Burslem | Mural | She also did a large ceiling mural called "Christ in Glory" for St Joseph's. The work, done in panels was generally done at The Glass House and brought then to the church. It was completed in 1937. Based on her relationship and affection for the church she only wished to be paid for incidental expenses.[1][12] |
Saint Margaret parish church | Tatterford | Stained glass | She designed the windows of the parish church that were installed in 1951.[9] |
St Mary Church - first window in the north nave | Friston
|
Stained glass | The work was installed in 1952.[2][13] |
St Mary's Church east window | Hampden Park, Eastbourne | Stained glass | It was installed in 1953.[2][14] |
St. Thomas the Apostle | Boston Road, London Borough of Ealing | Stained glass | Moira Forsyth made stained glass for the children's chapel and small panels at the west end of the church, "Suffer Little Children", which was made in Arts and Crafts style.[15] |
Exhibitions
Forsyth frequently exhibited at art galleries and the
Awards
Forsyth received the Queen's award for lifelong services to the arts.[1]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f Hughes, Fred. (20 December 2008). "Father and daughter left legacy to Mother Town." The Sentinel. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Architects and Artists F-G: Moira Forsyth. Archived 9 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches – Architects and Artists. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Moira Forsyth: designer of Emanuel School chapel windows.[permanent dead link] Emanuel Alumni. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Moira Forsyth", Catholic Herald. 26 April 1991. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b FORSYTH Moire 1905-1991. Archived 24 December 2012 at archive.today Stoke Museums. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d Untitled stained glass window panel. The Stained Glass Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-57958-315-6. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Architects and Artists T-U-V: M Travers. Archived 24 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches – Architects and Artists. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h History of the Church of the Holy Family. Archived 19 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Holy Angels Church, Ash. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell, describing Moira Forsyth's artwork. St. Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-7478-0205-1. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Moira Forsyth's Artwork for St. Joseph's Church, Burslem. Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine St. Joseph's Church, Burslem. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ St Mary Church, Friston. Sussex Parish Churches. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
- ^ Allen, John. (21 February 2011). Eastbourne – St Mary, Hampden Park. Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ISBN 978-0-300-09652-1. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
External links
- Moira Forsyth's Artwork for St. Joseph's Church, Burslem
- The Moira Forsyth Windows at Holy Family Church, Farnham, Surrey, plus great biographical information, references and links
- Images
- "Benedictine Window", Norwich Cathedral
- "Benedictine Window" detail, Norwich Cathedral
- Moira Forsyth Glass, Norwich Cathedral
- St Benet Biscop detail, Norwich Cathedral
- Crucifix, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church
- Moira's works at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Burslem
- Ashton-under-Lyne, St Michael, Nativity