Restored stained-glass Stations of the Cross at Melbourne college

Catholic Theological College (CTC) in East Melbourne is the new home for a restored set of stained-glass Stations of the Cross, reports the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

About 40 people gathered at CTC last week for the official opening and blessing of the restored stations. 

Archbishop Denis Hart blessed the restored stations while Sr Rosemary Crumlin RSM OAM, a well-known scholar and curator of religious art in Australia, officially opened the stations.

The stations were originally created by stained-glass artist Bill Gleeson (1927-1999) for the opening of the new Corpus Christi seminary in Clayton in 1973. 

After the seminary and CTC moved from Clayton to their current sites in Carlton and East Melbourne in 1999 and 2000, the buildings at Clayton were demolished.

Numerous chapel fittings, including the altar, were relocated to various churches, with the stations being relocated to CTC. Very Rev Associate Professor. Shane Mackinlay, Master of Catholic Theological College, said: “These stations are a very tangible reminder of the core connection CTC has both with the campus that we shared in Clayton and our ongoing connection with the seminary now that it’s in Carlton.” 

Stained-glass restorer Geoffrey Wallace worked with Bill Gleeson before his passing in 1999 and was in charge of the restoration work. 

It took 12 months for the research and planning, then six months for the conservation and construction of frames, the mounting and final installation of the stations at CTC.