About Us

Robert McCausland Limited is the oldest stained glass company in the Western Hemisphere. RML is also the longest, continuously owned family company in Canada. Founded in 1856 by Joseph McCausland, an Irish immigrant, the firm has survived five generations.  Andrew McCausland, has captained Robert McCausland Limited since 1977.

The company is in the business of designing and producing new stained glass windows, restoration and repair, light boxes, outside storm glazing, sand blasting, and installations. Our work is respected throughout the world and is treasured by many. Stained glass is used as a memorial in religious buildings to honour those that have passed on. In a secular setting it is used to accent an interior and is usually the focus of a room. We subscribe to an old adage that the client is always right. We work very closely with our customers to produce a window that both our client and Robert McCausland Limited can be proud.

Robert McCausland Limited is the benchmark for industry standards and quality by which all others are compared.

It is the commitment of Robert McCausland Limited to produce the finest work using the very best materials at a fair price to our clients. We are responsible to deliver on time and respect deadlines.

To date, we have created thousands of custom made windows that are displayed all over the world. We will create the finest stained glass window using the very best European glasses and craftsmanship at a very fair cost.

Stained Glass Canada

 

St. Saviour's Pro-Cathedral

Nelson, British Columbia -Restoring the Good Shepherd Window

Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Kootenay, Nelson, British Columbia

by Bonnie Holland

My husband has been repairing stained glass windows since 1976. In those days, Moss took on many repairs of old English style windows that were often taken before the demolition crews levelled the older houses.

Now from our studio in the mountains of the Kootenays, Moss and our 21 year old son Gavin, continue window repair work, but our family business, which includes myself and my step-daughter, Gimel, mostly creates and produces a line of unique glass gifts, both in stained glass and in fused hot-glass designs.

Our glass business was an entity completely separate from our spiritual and religious life until the two melded in June 2005. Yes, we have made a number of Church windows here in Nelson, Castlegar and Trail. They were all challenging jobs, which were designed, constructed and very stunningly powerful when finally in place. There was something very different that was put into action when we were asked by St. Saviour’s Pro-Cathedral in Nelson, to view their stained glass windows to establish their condition.

The day we looked at the windows back in May, we entered the familiar warmth of our worship space with a critical eye and a notepad ready. They vary from small, delicate and quite reachable ones to the large tri-panel series located 35 feet up in the vaulted gothic archway. Situated ten feet above the carpeted chapel area near the heart of the church is the massive 9’ by 14’, tri- panelled feature window. It is an incredible depiction of a compassionate Jesus, robed in red, surrounded by an awesome pastoral, scenic display of dynamic colours and framed at the lower part with golden scrolls. On the lower edge, worked in with lead, reads: I Am The Good Shepherd and Know My Sheep.

As we studied the various windows, we listed a few cracks in a border, a minor break or two and some slight slumping in an unprotected plain window. As we continued, we viewed windows 30 feet up that needed to be repaired on site by ladders and scaffolding. Also there was a set that would actually have to be removed, re-leaded and replaced. All these were restoration procedures that could be accomplished. All the windows needed to be cleaned inside and out, but once the dirt and grime of their long life was washed off and their edges tooled a little, they would be lovely, and brilliantly beautiful. It was apparent that Moss found the windows remarkable in construction and in excellent condition. It was unusual to hear Moss exclaim about the extraordinary beauty and power of the all these memorial windows.

When we returned with a tall ladder, to measure and examine the huge, main, feature window, a serious tone affected Moss’s voice as he described the centre lower panel. It had severe slumping, broken support wires, a pushed out lower section; it was really badly damaged! The 3’ by 5 ½ ‘, lower section (Christ’s waist, past his bare feet, to the bottom edge,) would have to be removed, laid flat on a work table, repaired on site, raised back up again, put into position and reinforced so it would not slump again!

We could access it with scaffolding, but when we stood in the warm, ascetic comfort of the chapel space and looked up, it seemed like an overwhelming and daunting project. A few days later when we talked about the feature window again his voice hesitated… I’ve never handled anything so old, so valuable and so large!” I just don’t know if I can do it?

I telephoned my mother parish, St. Mary’s Kerrisdale, to inquire who had made the gorgeous windows for their new Narthex. They gave me a Toronto name and phone number. What good would it do to call them, I wondered as I dialled? Mr. McCausland would contact us when he returned from out of town.

One afternoon Mr. McCausland called our studio. He had just returned from England where he was overseeing the restoration of Cathedral, stained glass windows. We discovered that much of Andrew’s work involves European churches. He is a specialist, as was his father, his grandfather, and his great grandfather too! Moss and Andrew talked about steel barring and ties and then came the warning of urgency. If the window is not repaired immediately the slumping and tearing from the bars will continue throughout and all the weight of the lead and glass will pull all the panels out of position resulting in extensive and very costly, major repairs!

With continued correspondence about techniques to use, Moss found Andrew to be a most pleasant and friendly fellow. I’ll never forget Moss’s expression when he beamed… “He will be in Vancouver in June, and he will gladly come up to Nelson for one day to oversee the main window repair!”

The most experienced world-renowned stained glass expert is coming to help us at the minimal cost of air flight, some expenses and his favourite lunch- homemade tuna sandwiches with a Pepsi! This seemed like a gift from God! Moss and I began to feel like we were riding in a boat on a fast moving river!

Our excitement and anticipation was mounting when a very heavy wooden crate of steel bars arrived at the church office and Andrew confirmed that he could arrive from Vancouver on the morning flight, and then catch the late afternoon flight back to his consultant and design commitments. He could give us one half day! Gavin and Moss looked at each other… five hours!

What a difference a day makes! On June 26, Gavin, Moss and this six foot tall fourth generation master, were up on the scaffolding peeling away the hardwood moulding, nipping the nails, and manhandling the distressed panel with gusto! Out came the section, hand-over-hand down to the waiting table. Moss’s heart could beat normally again! I had been assigned to get coffees and what a shock when I came around the corner of the alley to see a great black, blank space with a man’s burly arm hanging onto the side!

Ean Gower, our churchwarden, arrived to see how the endeavour was going and as the men chatted Moss worked on the dirty, warped panel that now lay flat on the table. Andrew was satisfied that Moss was completely capable and skilled and so he gave a few instructions and tips, particularly encouraging Gavin as he assisted. He had some fascinating and humorous stories of growing up in the family business. His recounts of his travels, the working factory and of his two sons who help him were really interesting.

 

CRAFTSMEN - Restoring the Good Shepherd stained glass Window:
Andrew McCausland (left), Moss Holland, Gavin Holland,
and Ean Gower (church warden).

 

Andrew’s expertise had boosted the project into operation and since he was very curious about our town, I took him for a walk around the main streets and shops. On our return to the church and after our humble, but tasty lunch, Andrew, with camera in hand, enthusiastically moved to regard the other windows in the church. It was amazing being with him as he quickly photographed and identified the windows made by his forefathers! All nine of the beautiful side tri-panels had their trademarks of design and construction. As he pointed them out and since that inspirational moment, they have come to a new level of living stories for me. It seems the light on the glass releases and delights the soul, calling us to a transformed consciousness in the Lord’s abiding presence. It was time to say goodbye, and take Andrew to the airport. Gavin was speechless when Andrew invited him to come to Toronto next summer and work in his factory as a summer apprentice! We left the men to their diligent work.

Upon my return in the late afternoon, the backside of the panel was completed, it had been carefully lowered and in unison, pivoted and turned over. On the right side, they had realigned the lead, soldered the joints, applied the sticky putty, and covered the entire surface with a charcoal grey blanket of chalk dust. I was asked to join them as they were bent over, scoring with wooded sticks around every glass section to get a clean edge. The dust was vacuumed off the and with a spray bottle and a soft cloth we cleaned and polished the darkness off the antique piece. Then, out of my son’s heart and lips came the catapulting realization:” Hey mum, I’m washing Christ’s feet!”

There we were with all the saints before us, with my Anglican mother and father, my Anglican grandmothers and grandfathers! As a family unit we were positioned and aligned with all the followers of the Messiah - Our Good Shepherd! We also have come to serve, to wash feet, to love and give our talents every day, as we work!

After honouring the special kind of silence around us, we continued washing the feet of Jesus and we completed the cleaning of the entire panel that lay before us. It had been a very long day. There was no fear as we hand over hand hoisted it up the scaffolding and into position. We worked buoyant on a spirit that had breathed on us. We felt we were chosen for this job, for that moment of revelation, to be brought to this new awareness that we will carry with us into the future.

When evening came, after the men adjusted, barred, wired, and soldered the panel in place, it came time to put the final nail in the hardwood moulding, and then we all breathed deeply with a heightened sense of grace as we stood below the scaffolding and gazed up at the completed Cosmic Christ!

 

 

USA

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

St. Matthias Episcopal Church

1965                1 light Resurrection

1964                1 light Christ with wise men and Prophets

1962                1 light Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

1958                1 light Christ healing the blind

1958                1 light Christ Calling his disciples

1956                1 light Entry Into Jerusalem

1955                1 light Gethsemane

1955                1 light Christ Blessing little Children

1954                1 light Christ Preaching

1954                1 light Boy Christ in Temple

1954                1 light Christ Bearing the Cross

1954                1 light Crucifixion

1953                1 light Nativity

1952                2 light Easter Morn

1951                2 light Good Shepherd and Sower

1950                The Light of The World

1950                St. Luke, St. Paul and St. Matthias, St. James the Minor

1950                3 light Supper at Emmaus

1951                St. John

 

CLEVELAND, OHIO

Knollwood Cemetery Mausoleum, Mayfield Heights, Cleveland, Ohio

1955                1 ornamental panel (Billingsley window)

                        1 ornamental panel (Sabin window)

1955                1 ornamental panel (Heypoldt)

                        3 light Centre of one set Crown of Glory

                                   Centre  of another set Hope of Praise

                                    Centre of third set Cross and Faith

 

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

1957                1 light St. Mary

1948                Presentation in the Temple

1948                3 light Three Marys at the tomb

1946                3 light Nave "Annunciation"

                                              Manger scene

1955                3 light Flight Into Egypt

1954                3 light Boy Christ in the Temple

1944                3 light Supper at Emmaus

3        light Crucifixion

 

 

ERIE, PA 16502

St. Joseph R.C. Church

2003                All Saints window

 

 

GAINSVILLE, FLORIDA

Trinity Methodist Church

1999                1 light Nativity

1999                1 light Blessing Children

1999                1 light Come Unto Me

2000                1 light Cross of Faith with Sunset  scene

 

GALVESTON, TEXAS

Trinity Anglican Church

1927                The Presentation

1941                St. Michael

 

 

 

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

St. George's Episcopal Church

1987                2 light St. Cecilia

                        1 light St. Columba and St.. Andrew

 

 

 

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

 

St. Paul's Church

1945                2 light Good Shepherd with tracery pieces

 

 

SCOTSDALE, ARIZONA

Valley Presbyterian Church

1986                4 light The Pentecost

 

 

SAVANNAH,  GEORGIA

Aurora Arts Group

1986                Contemporary window

 

 

WESTCHESTER PENNSYLVANIA

Church of the Holy Trinity

1998                1 light Pastoral scene

                            Sunset and light house

 

                       

 

World

 PONTILLAN FAITH, UNITED KINGDOM

H.T. Asbridge

1998                1 small coloured window

 

GEORGETOWN, ST. VINCENT W.I.

1996                3 light Te Deum window

 

HALF WAY TREE, JAMAICA

St. Andrew's Anglican Church

1989                Repairs to window

 

KINGSTON, JAMAICA

Kingston College Chapel

1946                2 west windows  Boy Christ in Carpenter's Shop

 

St. Margaret's Anglican Church

1991                Repairs

 

Alpha Girls Academy

1991                Repairs

 

MAYPEN, JAMAICA

St. Gabriel's Church

1980                Repairs

 

 

PORT MARIA, JAMAICA

St. Mary's Church

1946                2 light Christ Blessing Children

                                    Christ and Woman at Well

                        1 light Annunciation

                        1 light Crucifixion

 

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINADAD

St. Mary's College

1941                2 panel window  St. Michael and St. Patrick

                        3 panel end window  Apparition of B..V.M. at Lourdes

 St. Anne's Presbyterian Church

1918                Christ the Sower

 

ST. JOSE, COSTA RICA

Church of Good Shepherd

1951                19 pieces to be painted

1949                2 light Easter Morn

2        light Nativity

Good Shepherd, St. Andrew , St. Luke

 

ST. MARC, HAITI

Haiti Mission

                        1 curved transom top

                        2 emblem windows

                        1 tables of the law emblem

                        1 Holy Bible emblem

 

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