Spotlight on Trena Cox – Stained Glass Artist

Her work adorns churches across the North West and yet her name is little known in the public realm.

Chester Cathedral shines spotlight on little known stained glass artist.

But this autumn Chester Cathedral intends to change all that with the launch of an exhibition to celebrate the life and work of Trena Cox, a little-known stained-glass artist whose work can be seen in churches across Chester, the North West, North Wales, and further afield.

Chester Cathedral’s artist-in-residence, Aleta Doran has researched her story and career and is project lead for Trena Cox: Reflections 100 – a partnership exhibition between Aleta, Chester Cathedral, the Grosvenor Museum, and the University of Chester. 

Exhibition boards will tell Cox’s story while commissioned artwork from local woman artists responding to her stained glass in different mediums will be displayed around the building.

Artist, Aleta Doran said:

“Trena Cox made a huge contribution to this area through her vibrant stained glass, and as an advocate for the preservation of Chester’s heritage.

“Her story is part of the story of Chester, the city in which she lived and worked for over fifty years. Chester Cathedral played a key role in the development of Trena Cox’s extraordinary career, so it is exciting to be able to hold the exhibition and other events here.”

The Very Revd Dr Tim Stratford, Dean of Chester, said:

“Trena Cox’s artwork was specifically commissioned and installed at Chester Cathedral as part of a daring reinvigoration project undertaken by the then-Dean Bennett as part of his efforts to make the Cathedral ‘open and free’ to all people. 

“Today, we are finally able to appreciate the significance of Cox’s work in our Cloister thanks to the research Aleta has undertaken and look forward to sharing Cox’s inspiring life and work with visitors through this exhibition, and accompanying workshops, activities, and events.”

The exhibition will run from  October 7 to November 8 before moving to the Grosvenor Museum in 2025. It has been made possible thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund –a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda which not only allows the exhibition to be produced, but will also enable a programme of events and workshops exploring Cox’s work through nature, art, and other mediums (to be tendered for), an exploration of endangered heritage skills, stained glass-themed family activities at the cathedral and free talks and workshops.

The exhibition will allow other churches around Chester and Cheshire whose buildings include stained glass by Trena Cox to be able to tell her story to their communities and visitors from new touring interpretation panels.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Additional funding to support this project has been graciously received from Councillor Simon Eardley and The Ursula Keyes Trust.