Topic C: The role of art and design as a vehicle for recording religious story, history and ideas.
This report aims to analyse the use of art and design in constructing religious story, history and ideas.
1.2 Sources of Information.
Information was obtained from the St. John's Cathedral website.
1.3 Authorisation.
Father D. Johnstone has requested this investigation.
2.0 Findings.
2.1 Religious Story and History Represented through Stained Glass Windows.
The stained glass windows at St. Johns Cathedral show images of aspects in Jesus" life and in Christian history. Events and places shown are Nativity, flight into Egypt, feeding of 5000 at the well of Samaria, Nazareth, Christ healing the Gadarene demoniac, the Apocalypse and Genesis (depicted with Australian imagery). Symbols and religious figures represented are: love, hope, faith, the Lamb of God, the good Samaritan, the Holy Family and shephards. Saints and important people shown are: St. Etheldreda, St. Theodore, S. Dunstan, St. Aiden, St. Chad, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Patrick, St. Ninian, St. Francis, St. Clare, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, St. Hugh, St. George and St. Mark.
2.2 Christian Belief Reflected in Design.
Designs and objects in the Cathedral are the Font, Altar, Tabernacle, Cross, Chancel, cruciform organisation of Cathedral and the Votive Candles.
3.0 Analysis.
3.1 Religious Story and History Represented through Stained Glass Windows.
The stained glass windows in St. John's Cathedral, and in any cathedral for that matter, are very important sources of information regarding the history of Christian beliefs and the story of Christianity. They depict important events in the history of Christianity by displaying events and locations, Christian symbols and figures, important Christians and saints. The history and story of Christianity can be communicated to the general public by the images in the stained glass windows. They are promoting the Christian belief an artistic sense, which many people in the community would be appealed to.