John C. Spence

John Charles Spence (born January 5, 1830, in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and died on September 14, 1890, in Montreal, Canada) was a Canadian stained-glass artist and painter of British origin.

Biography John Charles Spence was born on January 5, 1830, in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Around 1849, he opened a glass and stained glass factory at 40 Brownlow Hill in Liverpool. He emigrated to Canada in August 1853 and settled at 21 Notre-Dame Street in Montreal. From that moment on, he worked for the Ramsay & McArthur firm, making stained and enamel glass. He is already present at the Lower Canada Provincial Exhibition in September 1853, where the company exhibited stained glass windows and furniture adorned with enamelled glass. Also in 1853, he did the glazing for the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church in Montreal. On February 21, 1854, he formalized his partnership with the company. However, on December 1, 1854, the Ramsay & McArthur partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and John C. Spence consequently cancelled his agreement with this company on January 1, 1855. He continued his business on his own account under the company name "Canada Stained Glass Works" and produced between 1855 and 1858 the stained glass windows for the altar of Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.

Around 1862, John C. Spence ended his partnership with John McArthur and moved his workshop to 52 St. James Street. Around 1863, he moved his workshop again, this time to De Bleury Street, but in a temporary location while a new three-story brick building was being constructed by architect James Nelson at the intersection of Jurors and Bleury Streets to house his factory. Around 1865, John C. Spence moved into his brand-new factory.

John C. Spence died in Montreal on September 14, 1890. Henry John Spence continued the business, still under the names "John C. Spence & Sons" and "Canada Stained Glass Works," with the help of his own son, Frank Spence, until about 1917. Around 1920, the company became the "Montreal Art Glass Reg."

Around 1894, the new baptistery of Saint John the Evangelist Church in Montreal was built in memory of John C. Spence. However, the stained glass windows were made by the Hardman & Co. company of the United Kingdom.

Family John C. Spence is the son of British sculptor William Spence and the brother of sculptor Benjamin Edward Spence.

John C. Spence had at least four children: two sons, William Ramsay and Henry John, and at least two daughters (one residing in New York and the other in the United Kingdom). Around 1854-1855, he also taught "landscape and ornamental drawing" there.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of artists who worked in collaboration with or for John C. Spence or his companies:

Paul Caron, painter and glass colorist (1890s). Robert Henders (1880s or 1890s). Arthur Alfred Mackey (1880s). William Ramsay Spence, son of John C. Spence (did works at least since 1884).

Exposition universelle of Paris May 15 - November 15, 1855 Paris, France No. 300 : colored stained-glass windows : Stained glass window for the chancel of the Protestant church in Durham in Ontario. Sketches of stained glass windows, including some intended for the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. Exhibition May 1855 Montreal (Mechanics' Institute) Stained-glass windows. Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) September 12–14, 1855 Sherbrooke Stained-glass windows : 1st prize. Provincial Exhibition of Upper Canada October 9–12, 1855 Cobourg Stained-glass windows.

Provincial Exhibition of Upper Canada September 23–26, 1856 Kingston, Ontario Stained-glass windows.

Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) September 16–18, 1857 Montreal Stained-glass windows, diploma

Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) September 29 - October 1, 1858 Montreal (Land belonging to the Grand Trunk Railway Company, in Pointe-Saint-Charles) Stained-glass window, diploma. Colored glass, diploma.

Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) August 25 - September 8, 1860 Montreal (Crystal Palace) Stained-glass windows, silver medal.

Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) September 15–17, 1863 Montreal (Crystal Palace) Colored glass, 1st prize.

Provincial Exhibition of Lower Canada (Industrial Department) September 26–29, 1865 Montreal (Crystal Palace) Stained-glass windows, 1st prize. Colored glass.

Exposition Universelle (1867) April 1 - November 3, 1867 Paris, France Stained-glass windows, mention

Centennial Exposition May 10 - November 10, 1876 Philadelphia Stained-glass window (30 feet high and 12 feet wide) depicting three subjects : Parable of the Good Samaritan, Parable of the Budding Fig Tree et Presentation of Jesus. Silver medal.

Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) September 14–24, 1880 Montreal (Crystal Palace) Stained-glass window, 1st prize

Provincial Exhibition of Quebec (Industrial Department) September 14–24, 1881 Montreal (Crystal Palace) Assortment of patterned stained glass windows. Stained glass window for the residence of L. J. Seargeant, "Weredale". Drawing of a stained-glass window, 1st prize.

Provincial Exhibition of Quebec (Industrial Department) September 14–23, 1882 Montreal Stained-glass window. Drawing of a stained-glass window, 1st prize.

Lecture on the history of stained and painted glass, by lecturer Dr. Canon Norman. February 4, 1883 Montreal (Art Gallery of the 'Art Association of Montreal) Samples of painted glass and stained glass mounted on a screen, by John C. Spence. Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) October 1–10, 1883 Saint John, New Brunswick Stained-glass windows. First prize.

Dominion Exhibition (Industrial Department) 5 au 13 septembre 1884 Montreal Assortment of painted and leaded glass panels, 1st prize. Assortment of stained glass windows, 2nd prize et diploma. Drawing of a stained-glass window by W. R. Spence, 1st prize.

Annual Spring Exhibition of Works by Canadian Artists April 1885 Montreal (Art Gallery of the Art Association of Montreal) Memorial stained-glass window depicting Cleansing of the Temple.

Colonial and Indian Exhibition May 4 - October 15, 1886 South Kensington (United Kingdom) Stained glass window depicting General Montcalm, explorer Jacques Cartier, and Samuel de Champlain, surrounded by maple leaves, below which are toboggans, tomahawks, or tobacco pipes. Stained glass window depicting a mosaic of birds or leaves.

Art Gallery Exhibition March - April, 1893 Montreal (Art Gallery of the 'Art Association of Montreal) Stained glass windows intended for the World's Fair (see description below). World's Columbian Exposition May 1 - October 30, 1893 Chicago Stained glass window depicting two figures representing Peace and Abundance : "Beneath a small cherub-like figure representing the "Angel of Peace," is a female figure sitting upon a cannon : at her feet are books, a broken sword, cannon balls, etc. There is a back ground of mountains overhanging a lake in which are sailing vessels loaded with merchandise. At the right of the figure are doves : emblematical of Peace. A second female figure representing "Plenty." In her right hand are ears of wheat : in her left a cornucopia. The background is a field of grain with reapers at work. Running about the margin of the glass is a border of ears of corn interwoven with olive branches. [...] The dress of the figure "Peace" is blue; that of "Plenty" is ruby, mixed with white and olive green."

Stained glass window depicting the Savior blessing children.

List of works John C. Spence (1853-1884) Stained glass windows of the altar of Notre-Dame Church in Montreal, made by John C. Spence between 1855 and 1858. Below is a non-exhaustive list of John C. Spence's known achievements, including those while he was employed or partner at Ramsay & McArthur (1853-1855) or McArthur & Spence (1860-1862): Circa 1853: glazing of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Church, Montreal, Quebec. 1850s (?): Stained glass windows in St. Mark's Anglican Church, Longueuil, Quebec. December 22, 1855: John C. Spence decorated the reception hall for a banquet organized by the New England Society of Montreal at the Ottawa Hotel in Montreal to commemorate the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. Between 1855 and 1858: Stained glass windows in the altar of Notre-Dame Church, Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1857: commemorative stained glass window in memory of George Hamilton for a church in Hawkesbury, Ontario. Circa 1857: stained glass lamps for a fire engine destined for Station No. 2 of the Cataract Fire Company in Hamilton, Ontario. Circa 1857: stained glass windows for Saint-Jacques Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1860: stained glass windows for the residence of the Honourable John Rose, known as "Montrose," which was used as a temporary residence for Prince Albert Edward in Montreal. Circa 1862: stained glass windows for the First Baptist Church (corner of De la Gauchetière and Beaver Hall Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1863: Two stained-glass windows in the Church of the Ascension, Hamilton, Ontario. Circa 1864: Painted decorations and stained-glass windows in St. Luke's Episcopal Church (corner of Dorchester and Saint Hubert Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1865: Stained-glass windows on the Inland Steam Navigation Company's steamboat "Spartan". Between 1865 and 1867: Stained-glass windows in Trinity Anglican Church (corner of St-Denis and Viger Streets, Montreal). Circa 1865: Stained-glass windows in Erskine Church (corner of Sainte-Catherine and Peel Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1865: Stained-glass windows in the American Church (intersection of Dorchester and Drummond Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1866: stained glass windows for St. James Anglican Church, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Circa 1867: stained glass and painted windows for two urban dwelling houses on University Street, Montreal. Circa 1867: stained glass windows for the Michael Farmer House (McCord Street, Montreal, Quebec). Between 1867 and 1874: stained glass windows for St. Ninian's Cathedral, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Circa 1869: Stained glass windows of the Methodist Church in Stanstead, Quebec. Circa 1872: Stained glass windows of an Anglican church in Ely County, Quebec. Circa 1873: A commemorative stained glass window in memory of Archibald Campbell installed in Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1875: Stained glass windows of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York. After 1877: Stained glass windows of St. Luke's Church in Waterloo, Quebec. Circa 1878: Stained glass windows of Knox Presbyterian Church (corner of Crescent and Dorchester Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1878: Painted decorations and stained glass windows of Olivet Baptist Church (corner of Osborne and De la Montagne Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1879: Stained glass windows of St. Jude's Anglican Church in the Little Burgundy district of Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1880 : Stained glass windows for Trinity Church in Saint John, New Brunswick. Circa 1881: Commemorative stained-glass window in memory of Bishop O'Brien installed in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Brockville, Ontario. Circa 1881: Stained-glass window installed at "Weredale," the residence of L. J. Seargeant, then president of the Grand Trunk Railway Company. The residence was located at the intersection of Dorchester and Atwater Streets, Westmount, Quebec. Circa 1882: stained glass windows for the Presbyterian Church in Valleyfield (since 1984: Emmanuel de Pentecôte Church), including a commemorative window in memory of Alexander and Cornelia Anderson, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. Between 1882 and 1884: stained glass windows for the église de la Purification-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie (Church of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Repentigny, Quebec. Around 1884: stained glass windows for St. Stephen's Anglican Church (corner of Dorchester and Atwater Streets, Westmount, Quebec).

John C. Spence & Sons (1884-1917) The company John C. Spence & Sons, founded by John C. Spence and his sons, William and Henry, was not limited to stained glass production but also offered a full range of interior decoration services, particularly for churches. They could therefore create wall decorations, install decorative tiles, brasswork, or even church furniture. thumb Stained glass windows manufactured by the John C. Spence & Sons company around 1888 for the waiting room of the Bonaventure train station in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.thumb Memorial window dedicated to John the Apostle in memory of John C. Spence. Between 1881 and 1885: Stained-glass windows for Saint-Henri Church in Mascouche, Quebec. Circa 1885 : Stained-glass window depicting "The Ascension of Christ" for a church in Bridgetown, Nova Scotia. Circa 1886: Stained-glass windows for the Balmoral Hotel, Notre-Dame Street, Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1886: Stained-glass windows for St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Circa 1886: Stained-glass windows for the Episcopal Church in Saint-Lambert, Montérégie (replaced in 1929 by St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Saint-Lambert), Quebec. Circa 1886: Stained-glass windows for the American Presbyterian Church (intersection of Drummond and Dorchester Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1887: Stained glass windows of the Sainte-Anne de Varennes Basilica, Quebec. Circa 1887: Installation of a commemorative stained glass window in memory of Robert William and Anne Sarah O'Connor, produced by a manufacturer in the United Kingdom, in St. Matthew's Church (since 1979: Saint-Jean-Baptiste Library), Quebec City. Circa 1888: Commemorative stained glass window in memory of Reverend Charles Rollit installed in Christ Church, Rawdon, Quebec. Circa 1888: Stained glass windows in the waiting room of Bonaventure Station (1887–1952), Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1890: Stained glass windows for Saint James Chapel in Lac-Beauport, Quebec. Circa 1892: Stained glass windows for Grace Church, Pointe-Saint-Charles, Montreal, Quebec. Circa 1892: Stained glass windows for Saint Paul Anglican Church (Brome Lake). Between 1895 and 1897: Stained glass windows for Saint Mark Chapel, Bishop's University, Sherbrooke. Circa 1896: Six commemorative stained glass windows for Trinity Church in Muscatine, Iowa. Circa 1896: Stained glass window for Knox Presbyterian Church (corner of Dorchester and Mansfield Streets, Montreal, Quebec). Circa 1897: A circular stained-glass window for St. George's Cathedral in Kingston, Ontario. Circa 1897: A commemorative stained-glass window in memory of Senator Henry Kaulback for an Anglican church in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Circa 1899: Commemorative stained-glass window in memory of John Martin installed in St. John's Anglican Church in Bury, Quebec. Circa 1899: Decorations for a chapel in St. Jax Church (or St. James the Apostle Church), Montreal. Between 1898 and 1900: Stained-glass windows for Christ Church, Saint-André-d'Argenteuil.

John C. Spence & Sons also produced stained glass windows for these buildings:

St. Peter's Church, Cookshire-Eaton. Saint George's Church, Drummondville. Holy Trinity Church (Iron Hill). Chapel of Jeffrey Hale - St Brigid's Hospital, Quebec.

Furthermore, the firm John C. Spence & Sons ordered, adapted and installed stained glass windows in the Montreal residences of Donald Alexander Smith, Richard B. Angus, the Honourable John Abbott, Robert Simms and G. N. Gnaedinger.

Notes and references