Frank Roper

Frank Roper
The last supper, St.Michael-le-Grand church, York (1968)
Born	12 December 1914 Haworth, Yorkshire, England
Died	3 December 2000 (aged 85)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Nora Ellison (1918–1999)

Frank Roper (12 December 1914 – 3 December 2000) was a British sculptor and stained-glass artist who undertook commissions for churches and cathedrals across Wales and England.

In addition to religious commissions, Roper created a wide variety of sculptures which were sold privately and to corporate bodies. These included including nudes, bulls and birds, as well as animated sculpture, such as musical fountains and water clocks. Roper was also a potter and a calligrapher.

Biography

Frank Roper was born 12 December 1914 in Haworth, Yorkshire. He studied at Keighley Art School (meeting his future wife, Nora Ellison) and the Royal College of Art, London, where he was a student of Henry Moore.^[1][2] In 1947 he became a sculpture lecturer at Cardiff College of Art,^[3] later vice principal, remaining there until he retired in 1973. He lived in Penarth and created his own foundry on the ground floor of his house where he made his metal sculptures.^[1] Roper is credited with inventing the lost-polystyrene casting process.^[4]

Crucifixion with Mary and John, St German's Church, Cardiff (1965)

Many of Roper's early commissions stemmed from the need to repair places of worship after they had suffered bomb damage during World War II. His major commissions included work on Llandaff Cathedral,^[1] Durham Cathedral, St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire and Peterborough Cathedral. He created a wall-mounted "Stations of the Cross" (1959) for St Martin's in Roath, "Crucifixion with Mary and John" (1965) outside St German's Church, Adamsdown, Cardiff and an aluminium reredos screen (1968) for St Martin le Grand, York.^[1][5][6] Roper also created engraved and stained glass, for example at St Peter's Church, Chippenham.^[7]

Two BBC television programmes were made about Roper, one in 1964 ("Mind into Metal - Frank Roper, Sculptor)^[4] and the other in 1976 ("Look, Stranger: Sculpture and Singing Fountains).^[8][9] Examples of his secular work can be found in the collections of the National Museum Cardiff and the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.^[10]

Roper was awarded the MBE in 1991^[11] for his services to art.

He died at the end of 2000.^[1] In 2014 an exhibition marking the centenary year of his birth was held at the Travellers Gallery, Barry.^[3] A memorial service at Llandaff Cathedral was planned for the centenary date, 12 December 2014.^[10]

Notable works

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Crucifixion, Peterborough Cathedral (1974)

Ecclesiastical sculpture

• St Samson & St Dyfrig, Grangetown, Cardiff, aluminium crucifixion (date unknown)^[12]
• Church of St Mary, Penmark, Vale of Glamorgan, bronze figure of the Virgin Mary (date unknown)^[13]
• Church of St James, Pyle, Bridgend, aluminium figure of Christ reigning from the Cross (date unknown)^[13]
• Church of St Mary, Margam Abbey, Margam, Neath Port Talbot, aluminium hanging rood (date unknown)^[13]
• St Andrew’s Church, Penyrheol, Caerphilly, sculpture of Christ suspended over the high alter (date unknown)^[14]
• Church of the Resurrection, Ely, Cardiff, stone alter, screen, crucifix and furnishings (dates unknown)^[15]
• Chapel of St. Michael's College, Llandaff, small figure of St Michael (date unknown)^[16]
• Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny, crucifix (date unknown)^[13]
• St Leonard & St Jude, Doncaster, sculpture (date unknown)^[17]
• St Martin’s Church, Roath, Cardiff, wood carving of St Martin and the Beggar (1956/7)^[12]
• St Martin’s Church, Roath, Cardiff, aluminium, Stations of the Cross (1959)^[12]
• St Saviour’s, Splott, Cardiff, aluminium, Stations of the Cross (1961)^[12]
• Llandaff Cathedral (Lady Chapel), bronze panels of flowers (1964)^[1]
• Christ Church, Roath Park, Cardiff, Crucifix in the church forecourt (1964?)^[18]
• St German's Church, Adamsdown, Cardiff, wrought iron Crucifixion with Mary and John in the church forecourt (1965)^[6][19]
• St. Thomas' Church, Brompton, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, reredos of the Last Supper in aluminium, collaboration with George Pace (1965)^[20][21]
• St Martin-le-Grand, York, gilt aluminium reredos of the Last Supper (1968)^[1]
• St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff, aluminium Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and St John in the Lady Chapel (1969)^[13]
• Durham Cathedral, panel for the tomb of Bede (1970)^[1]
• Llandaff Cathedral, small bronze frieze of Saint Teilo (1973)^[12]
• St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, lady chapel screen (1973)^[1]
• Peterborough Cathedral, Crucifixion (1974)^[1]
• St Denys, Lisvane, Cardiff, sanctuary fittings (1979?)^[18]
• Wells Cathedral, Somerset, set of Nativity and Epiphany figures in aluminium (1978/9)^[12]
• St Bernadette, Whitchurch, Bristol, suspended crucifix (1982)^[22]
• Patrishow near Crickhowell in Powys, figure of Saint Issui in aluminium (1995)^[12]

Glass

• Church of St Mary, Margam Abbey, Margam, Neath Port Talbot, I Am the Bread of Life stained glass window (date unknown)^[13]
• St Peter’s Church, Fairwater, Cardiff, stained glass window (date unknown)^[13]
• Church of St Catwg, Gelligaer, Caerphilly, stained glass in nave’s north window (date unknown)^[23]
• Church of St Mary Magdalen, Kenfig, Bridgend, stained glass in nave’s south window (date unknown)^[24]
• St Peter’s Church, Blaenavon, Gwent, chancel stained glass windows (date unknown)^[17][25]
• St. Brendan's Sixth Form College chapel, Bristol, Stations of the Cross etchings on glass (date unknown)^[26]
• St Saviour's Church, Splott, Cardiff, two windows in the north aisle (1963)^[27]
• St Crallo's Church, Coychurch, engraved glass west windows (c.1963)^[28]
• St Peter's Church, Chippenham, comprehensive architectural glass scheme^[7] (1968) in collaboration with his wife, Nora^[1]
• St Augustine, Rumney, Cardiff, representation of Virgin and Child, internal glass panel (1969)^[12]
• All Saints Church, Barry, Sanctuary window Supper at Emmaus (c. 1971)^[29]
• Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Newcastle Emlyn, architectural stained glass windows (1971-3)^[30][31][32]
• St Tydfil's Church, Llysworney, Christ as King and as Good Shepherd semi-abstract stained glass with thickenings (1972)^[33]
• St Martin’s Church, Caerphilly, St Francis window (1973)^[34]
• Church of St Illtyd, Llantwit Fardre, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Christ in Majesty stained glass window (1974)^[13]
• Christ Church, Ynysybwl, Christ surrounded by a crown of thorns stained glass east window^[35]
• St David’s Church, Neath, Neath Port Talbot, two stained glass windows of musical angels (1981)^[13]
• Church of St Mary, Wenvoe, stained glass window above the doors to the tower, depicting the Virgin and Child framed in a Jesse tree (1981)^[13][36]
• St Michael and All Angels, Michaelston-le-Pit, windows of seasons in flowers in the Chancel (c. 1986)^[37]
• St Mary’s, Talbenny, Pembrokeshire, windows depicting the Resurrection, St David and St Bride (date unknown)^[12]
• Stoke Methodist Church (now called Stoke Christian Centre), Stoke, Plymouth, a long frieze window depicting the Creation (date unknown)^[12]

References

1. Peter Wakelin (11 December 2000). "Frank Roper: Sculptor entranced by ancient subjects and modern materials". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
2. "Frank Roper". Imaging the Bible in Wales database. University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
3. Rebecca Lord (19 August 2014). "Artist Frank Roper remembered in centenary exhibition". Penarth Times. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
4. Jones, Peter W; Hitchman, Isabel (2015), Post-war To Post-modern: A Dictionary Of Artists In Wales, Gomer Press, p. 641, ISBN 9781848518766
5. "The 14 Stations Of The Cross". St Martin in Roath. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
6. "Crucifixion with Mary and John". Imaging the Bible in Wales Database. University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
7. "Visit the hidden gems". Gazette & Herald (Wiltshire). 31 August 2006. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
8. "Sculpture and Singing Fountains". Look, Stranger. 21 July 1976. BBC. BBC Two.
9. "Look, Stranger – Sculptures and Singing Fountains". BBC Genome Project – Radio Times 1923-2009. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
10. Chris Seal (17 November 2014). "Memorial service for Penarth-based sculptor". Penarth Times. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
11. United Kingdom list:The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 52382. pp. 1–28. 28 December 1990.
12. The Roper Exhibition Group, “The Religious Art of Frank Roper: An Introduction”
13. Imaging the Bible in Wales Database - University of Wales Trinity Saint David entries for Frank Roper
14. "St Andrew’s Church, Parish of Caerphilly". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
15. "Church of the Resurrection". Visit Cardiff Churches. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
16. "Chapel of St Michael’s College". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
17. "Discovering Frank Roper" (PDF). Retrieved 24 April 2015.
18. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 292/4
19. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 301
20. "St Thomas’ Information,". The Methodist Church and St. Thomas' Church, Brompton, Northallerton. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
21. "Chris Stafford photostream". Flickr. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
22. "Catholic Church of St Bernadette, History". St Bernadette Whitchurch. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
23. "Church of St Catwg". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
24. "Church of St Mary’s Magdalen". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
25. "Aidan McRae Thomson photostream". Flickr. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
26. Author unknown. "Frank Roper and St Brendan’s Sixth form College’s Stations of the Cross". Yumpu. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
27. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 312
28. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 334
29. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, pp. 145/6
30. "The Religious Art Of Frank Roper: An introduction (book review)". Church Times. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
31. Lloyd, Thomas; Orbach, Julian; Scourfield, Robert (2006), The Buildings of Wales: Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, Yale University Press, p. 50, ISBN 0-300-10179-1
32. "Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire". Stained Glass in Wales. University of Wales. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
33. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 414
34. "St Martin’s Church, Parish of Caerphilly". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
35. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 647
36. "St Mary's, Wenvoe". The Parish of Wenvoe with St Lythans. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
37. Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, p. 449

Sources

• Newman, John (2001), The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-071056-6
• The Roper Exhibition Group (2003), Llandaff Cathedral, "The Religious Art of Frank Roper: An Introduction" ISBN 1-872665-74-8