New window at LSE where different religious groups can 'set up camp'

The Desert Window by Christopher le Brun

A stained glass window commissioned for LSE's new Faith Centre, depicting a striking desert scene, was formally dedicated by the Bishop of London on Monday 12 May.

The Rt Rev Rt Hon Richard Chartes DD KCVO dedicated the window, designed by the President of the Royal Academy, Christopher Le Brun, to reflect the ancient tradition of the desert as a symbol of spiritual significance in the World Religions.

'The Desert' installation was made possible by a £25,000 gift from the parents of an alumnus, Mburu Kiereini, who died in August 2010. A substantial grant was also received from the LSE Annual Fund along with a range of individual donations.

LSE Chaplain, the Revd Dr James Walters, said: "The stained glass window reflects the image of the desert as a place of profound religious intensity, from the ancient Hindu traditions to the origins of the Judeo-Christian faith at Sinai."

"The desert has been a place of inter-religious encounter, not least through commerce along trade routes," Dr Walters said. "So this window represents how the LSE Faith Centre is a place of stillness for all people, where different religious groups can "set up camp" for a while, but also a place to encounter people of other faiths, to hear their stories and to share hospitality."

The Desert Window's creator, Christopher Le Brun, is a renowned painter, sculptor and printmaker, who studied at the Slade School of Art and Chelsea School of Art, and has taught and lectured extensively in art schools around the country. He has been President of the Royal Academy since 2011.

The window has been made with hand-painted enamels, thus creating an almost perfect replica in glass of a full-size oil painting created by the artist. It was manufactured in Germany by Glasmalerei Peters and overseen by glass specialist Andrew Moor.

For more details about its production, go to http://youtu.be/znal92y5k2I