Victoria’s Nineteenth Century Stained-Glass: A Fusion of History, Glamour, and Art

Beautiful stained-glass art graces many historical buildings throughout Victoria and Vancouver Island as you walk along Quadra street to see the first churches on the island, step inside and behold the intricate stained-glass windows from the nineteenth century. This art form can be found in Victoria’s castles, government buildings, and homes, resplendent leaded designs through which light passes and shimmers, reminding us of a an era that glamour and art lived in the hearts of many who came to bring originality and grace to an island far from home. In the old days such works of art not only impressed the viewers and worshipers with their rich colours and intricate patterns but told stories of their home country, England, Scotland, and of times both religious and prestigious.

On our Victoria Drive and Walk tour, we had a couple from Holland who expressed a love of stained glass and wished to see it. We started in Victoria’s  parliament building where the hallways are lined with more than 100 stunning leaded glass and stained-glass windows. For me, the most engaging of these is the window depicting Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and her 60th year of reign. In 1912 however, when the parliament buildings’ library was being built, this stunning glass art window was put way for safe keeping and subsequently forgotten for 60 years. Rediscovered, it was carefully restored and now hangs in the Reception Hall where we admired it.