The stained glass windows of Gordon Webster
Gordon Webster (1908 - 1987), the son of famous stained glass artist Alf Webster, made a major contribution to the decoration of Scotland's churches. Working from his studio in Glasgow, Webster fils created many fine windows for the Church of Scotland. His work for the Chapel consists of the superb Crucifixion scene in the centre of the apse.
This is a remarkably effective work. In the centre light a red-robed Christ is exalted on a Celtic Cross with the fires of the Holy Spirit descending upon him from above. To the left of the Cross are St Andrew, St Leonard and a figure in the robes of a prelate who might represent St John. At the foot are the three Marys whilst the right hand lights bear the figures of a King pouring water from a chalice and telling his counsellors "Is not this the blood of the men that went in vain of their lives?". Besides the Cross, in the upper third of the two flanking lights, are the Chosen, who cared not for the lives they willingly gave up in the service of God. All of these figures and drawn in cool shades of blue and green - the eye is forever drawn back to the central figure of Christ. At the base of the window are three small, more colourful panels depicting scenes from the Bible. From left to right are: The Sacrifice of Abraham; the Stoning of St Stephen and the Discovery of Cain's Guilt. Angels play harps in the tracery above the window, at the centre of which is the Burning Bush, symbol of the Church of Scotland.
The University is particularly fortunate to hold the original water-colour design of this window in its Collections. This allows us to trace the development of the artist's ideas and to see how changes in the plan of the tracery impacted upon the design. Webster's window for St Salvator's is a powerful focus within the Chapel; a symbol of hope raised after the dreadful realities of World War II.