Restoration
Notre Dame Basilica,
Ottawa, Canada
The great west wall
at Notre Dame, was removed and fully restored by Northern Art Glass Inc. This large expanse of stained glass is located on the mezzanine level overlooking Sussex Drive and the National Art Gallery.
Prior to the restoration, glass and lead deterioration was so advanced that the area had to be cordoned off. Each time the organ sounded, pieces of glass rained down from above.
During the restoration process on the great wall, we discovered the artist's inscription "H. Horwood and Sons, Ottawa, 1879". Church records indicated that all of the windows were thought to be Engish in origin. This was the first proof that a glass studio was established in Ottawa at such an early date. Similarities in glass and painting style indicated that Harry Horwood and Sons had fabricated most of the original stained glass at Notre Dame. Other Horwood windows can be found at St. Patrick's Basilica and the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library.
Northern Art Glass Inc. restored windows on the main floor, the mezzanine level and in the Arch-bishop's chapel in the basement over three phases and several years of work totalling $90,000.
Great care had to be taken to carry out glass restoration around the altar. Access to this area is via a narrow catwalk behind the historic guilded alterpiece and the statuary, 60 handcarved statues by sculptor Phillippe Herbert.
Installing newly restored
windows on the catwalk
above the altar with the
gilded wooden altarpiece
in the background.