Coventry Cathedral’s medieval stained glass fragments digitised after 90 years

Thousands of fragments from Coventry Cathedral’s 15th-century stained glass have been photographed and catalogued, making the collection available to view digitally for the first time in almost 90 years. The project has brought new attention to a little-known archive of exceptional medieval art and creates opportunities for conservation and research.

The glass, attributed to master glazier John Thornton, includes biblical scenes, portraits of donors, faces, animals and intricate jewel-like details. The fragments were stored in 30 wooden crates after the cathedral was destroyed in 1940; some have since been joined into patchwork panels. The collection will be viewable through the Bloomberg Connects app during November, with a permanent digital archive planned. Researchers may also use AI to explore the windows’ original themes and connections with work at other cathedrals.