Moira Forsyth
Moira Forsyth was an English stained glass artist. Her father was Gordon Forsyth a Scottish ceramics designer, stained glass artist and teacher. They both made impressive works for the St. Joseph's Church in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. She made her name for her stained glass works, such as those found at Guildford Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral and Eton College Chapel.
Most of her work life centered on The Glass House studio in Fulham in Greater London with other artists, such as Wilhelmina Geddes, Mary Lowndes and Alfred J. Drury. She also made and exhibited ceramics and created a large ceiling mural for the St Joseph's Catholic Church in Burslem, Staffordshire.
Personal life
Moira Forsyth was born in 1905 in Stafford, Staffordshire to Gordon Forsyth. Her father's career took the family to the Manchester area by 1911, although they returned to Staffordshire after the First World War.After training and her professional career in Stoke-on-Trent and London, Forsyth moved to Farnham, Surrey. She was initially trained in pottery and taught it, as well as making murals, but she was primarily known for her stained glass designs and work. She worked in the Ministry of Town and Country Planning during the years of World War II. She died in April 1991. Her requiem was held at Farnham's St Joan of Arc Church where Forsyth was a member.
Education and career
At Stoke-on-Trent, Forsyth studied ceramics in 1921 at the Burslem School of Art where her father was principal. While there she also created and exhibited her works, including an exhibition in 1925 at White City Fair "to worldwide acclaim". Orders begin coming in from around the world. The following year she opened up her own studio for ceramics design, but due to the 1926 general strike when the kilns were not operating, she needed to close down her work place.She then attended the Royal College of Art after having received a scholarship in a national contest. One of her instructors was Martin Travers. Taking up an interest in stained glass while there, glasswork became her professional aspiration. Forsyth then moved to the Greater London area where she first worked at St Oswald Studios and then at The Glass House studio where she worked with Wilhelmina Geddes and the studio owners Mary Lowndes and Alfred J. Drury.
During her career she was a member of the International Society of Christian Artists and Society of Catholic Artists member and president.
There are more than 1,000 historical files about Moira Forsyth, dating from 1877 through 1989, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These include family certificates of birth and death and papers directly related to her, including business and family correspondence, applications for commissions or memberships, drawings and sketches, project files, photographs and more.
Works
Forsyth received prestigious commissions for Cathedrals as well as for schools and parish churches. She has been described as "one of England’s most notable stained glass artists: Her work reflected use of slab glass, cross-hatching and colours of the Arts and Crafts movement.This is a list of some of her more important works.
| Work or place | Location | Type | Notes and references |
| All Saints | Snodland | Stained glass | |
| Aylesford Priory | Aylesford, near Maidstone, Kent | Stained glass | |
| Church of the Holy Family | Heath End, Farnham | Stained glass | This church is said to have the largest collection of her work. She made fourteen windows over a period of sixteen years; amongst which is a great Epihany window and a Last Supper window. Forsyth also designed 2 Lady Chapel windows, which is described here: "one of the words of the angel Gabriel to Mary when he conveyed God’s wish that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and the other shows Mary responding to the angel’s visit." She lived in Farnham and worshiped at this church. |
| Emanuel School | Battersea, London | Stained glass | Forsyth collaborated with heraldry expert Wilfrid Scott-Giles on 15 windows for the school chapel, commemorating the Dacre family, founders of the Emanuel Hospital. The hospital was founded in 1954 and operated as such for years. It was then re-purposed for the Emanuel School. It is believed that much of the work was performed at The Glass House. Her efforts are recognized in a plaque in the chapel. |
| Eton College Chapel | Berkshire | Stained glass | Eight roll of arms windows were created for the college chapel. It was one of her most significant commissions, completed in 1959 after five years of work. |
| Guildford Cathedral | Guildford, Surrey | Stained glass | It was her first significant commission and was completed for Sir Edward Maufe. |
| Norwich Cathedral | Norwich, Norfolk | Stained glass | The Benedictine window, completed in 1963, was one of her most significant commissions. The work was covered in John Harries book, Discovering Stained Glass, which highlighted how she painted the lettering and her detailed figures. |
| St Botolph’s | Chevening | Stained glass | |
| St Columbia's | Pont Street, London | Stained glass | |
| St John's | Higham | Stained glass | |
| St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church "Christ in Glory" mural | Burslem | Mural | She also did a large ceiling mural called "Christ in Glory" for St Joseph's. The work, done in panels was generally done at The Glass House and brought then to the church. It was completed in 1937. Based on her relationship and affection for the church she only wished to paid for incidental expenses. |
| Saint Margaret parish church | Tatterford | Stained glass | She designed the windows of the parish church that were installed in 1951. |
| St Mary Church - first window in the north nave | Friston | Stained glass | The work was installed in 1952. |
| St Mary's Church east window | Hampden Park, Eastbourne | Stained glass | It was installed in 1953. |
| St. Thomas the Apostle | Boston Road, London Borough of Ealing | Stained glass | Moira Forsyth made stained glass for the children's chapel and small panels at the west end of the church, "Suffer Little Children." which was made in Arts and Crafts style. |