Explore Morris & Co’s Stunning Stained Glass at Bradford Cathedral’s Exclusive Tours

If you love history, art, or just discovering hidden gems, here’s something you won’t want to miss. Bradford Cathedral is offering two special stained glass window tours on Saturday 22nd March 2025, where you can explore the breathtaking work of Morris & Co. right inside the cathedral.

These tours aren’t just about admiring the beauty of the glass; they’re also a chance to celebrate the 191st birthday anniversary of William Morris, the visionary artist and designer behind the famous company. So, if you’re curious about Victorian art, Pre-Raphaelite design, or just want to experience something unique, mark your calendars!

What Makes Morris & Co. Stained Glass So Special?

If you’ve ever walked into an old church and been mesmerised by colourful stained glass, chances are, you’ve seen work inspired by William Morris. In the 19th century, he and his team—including Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, and Ford Madox Brown—brought new life to stained glass windows, turning them into masterpieces of storytelling and craftsmanship.

Bradford Cathedral is home to four stunning Morris & Co. stained glass displays, featuring intricate designs and rich, jewel-like colours. Even more exciting, a recent discovery has linked one of the figures in the glass to William De Morgan, another major name in Victorian design.

And that’s not all—the tour will also highlight the spectacular West Window, created by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, another renowned stained glass firm. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves historic art.

When and Where?

The Morris & Co. Stained Glass Window Tours take place at:

📅 Saturday 22nd March 2025
🕦 11:30am and 1:30pm
📍 Bradford Cathedral

Each tour will take you through the history and artistry behind these incredible windows, and there’ll be light refreshments afterwards—because a bit of tea and cake makes everything better, right?

You can book your place at:

• 11:30am Tour
• 1:30pm Tour

Or visit the Bradford Cathedral website for more details.

Why Now?

As Maggie Myers, Director of Education and Visitors at Bradford Cathedral, explains:

“We have discovered in recent years that many people, in this area and further away, are unaware of the fact that we have beautiful and historic Morris and Co. glass in four locations in Bradford Cathedral. We decided this was something we wanted to highlight and advertise more widely.

“We did our first guided tours of the stained glass two years ago and they have been very popular. The Cathedral is very busy this year with all sorts of events, so it's wonderful to have a few opportunities in the year to showcase the Morris & Co. stained glass once again and tell those on the tours a little more of how it all came to be here and who worked on the different pieces."

In short: if you’ve never seen these windows up close, now’s the perfect time.

More to Explore: Ecclesiastical Textiles Tours

If you love discovering history through fabric and embroidery, Bradford Cathedral is also running Ecclesiastical Textiles Tours on Saturday 10th May 2025. After sell-out dates earlier in the year, they’re back to showcase altar frontals and textiles designed by:

• The Leek Embroidery Society
• Bradfordian artist Ernest Sichel
• Renowned embroiderer Louisa Pesel

These tours also run at 11:30am and 1:30pm, and tickets are available online now.

How to Book

📞 Call the Cathedral office on 01274 77 77 20 (Monday – Thursday, 10am – 3pm)
🌐 Visit the Bradford Cathedral website
🎟 Book online directly:

• Morris & Co. 11:30am Tour
• Morris & Co. 1:30pm Tour

These tours are a fantastic way to step into history and see some of the finest Victorian stained glass in the UK. Don’t miss out!