The stained glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious and other messages and might even offer a glimpse of heaven. Divine Light features glass from every Church of England cathedral, spanning 900 years, beginning with the installation of windows at Canterbury Cathedral following the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170 and encompassing the Middle Ages, the Reformation, the hugely productive 19th century, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Arts and Crafts movement, 20th century commissions and the innovative glass being installed in cathedrals today. Exploring the connections between the artistic beauty of stained glass, its effectiveness as a narrative medium and the various technical developments which have shaped the craft over the centuries, the book explains how the refraction of light through coloured glass emerged as an early form of mass communications which continues to inspire today.