Rare Tiffany Window Installed in Dunfermline Church

                                                                                                                            Friday August 9 2019

A RARE Tiffany window, commissioned by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie is to be installed in the Abbey Church of Dunfermline – more than 100 years after it was created.

The Victorian millionaire who famously gave away the fortune he made when he and his family emigrated to the USA, commissioned the window in 1912 in memory of his late mother and father who had lived in a cottage near the historic Abbey Church.  He had hoped the window could be installed in the historic nave of the Abbey.

A decision was taken at that time by H M Commission for Ancient Monuments that the stained glass window was unsuitable for the nave because of its pastoral design. The window was left in storage for many years and subsequently installed within the town’s Carnegie Hall – a theatre purpose built for the Fife town with funding from Carnegie’s legacy.

Following some deterioration, the window was then restored and in 2008 placed in Andrew Carnegie House, the purpose-built new headquarters of the three Carnegie Trusts based in Scotland. However after a decade it was discovered that further restoration work was needed as a result of an overheated environment. With the centenary of Carnegie's death in 2019, a decision was taken to fulfil his original wishes and install the window in a suitable location.  The General Trustees of the Church of Scotland granted permission in early July for the stained glass window to be installed in a purpose-built frame with backlighting on the south side of the church.

The window will be dedicated at a special service attended by representatives of the congregation, Carnegie family descendants, local and US communities, international Carnegie institutions and those who have provided funding for restoration and installation work, including the Dunard Fund and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The service will take place the day after the centenary of the death of Carnegie. A wreath will be laid on Sunday at the statue of Carnegie in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline, which he gifted to be held in trust by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust.

Nora Rundell, the chief executive of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, former custodians of the window, explained: “Finding the right location for this very special window and unique example of Tiffany glass design has been a challenge over the years. When the Trustees of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust looked at the possibility of restoring this beautiful work of art to the place where it was intended to be, in the historic Abbey church, they were delighted that the General Trustees were thinking the same way.

“The window is a direct link to the family roots of this worldwide philanthropist who contributed so much to the life of Dunfermline.

“We are grateful to the congregation of the Abbey Church and the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland for their support and understanding in realising the dream of Andrew Carnegie himself.”

Minister at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, the Rev MaryAnn Rennie said: “The congregation is delighted to welcome the window to the Abbey, more than a century after it was gifted thanks to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie.

“We are delighted that its beauty will grace the building for many visitors and future generations to enjoy and glad that it is finally where Carnegie wanted it to be.”

The Tiffany window was designed by the company founded artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of the world-famous jewellery store Tiffany & Co. The artist initially chose to pursue his own direction and developed a reputation for design, which included stained glass windows and lamps.

Tickets for the dedication are available here 

The tickets are free, but numbers are restricted.

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