St. John's Stained Glass Windows Article 2
  o  Chapel Entrance:
     66. Rainbow and Cross
     67. Lily and Cross 
  o  Handicapped Entrance by the Elevator
     9.   David the Psalmist/23d Psalm 
     10. Beatitudes   
  o  Flower Alcove [Bride's Room] - At the stairs to the Bride's Garden and Jatho Hall
      o  The Lord’s Prayer (double window) - Howard Kenneth Kelley
         11.  The Lord’s Prayer
         12.  Lord Teach Us to Pray
      13.  Come Let Us Sing unto the Lord- Helen Dundas Maclean from her family and friends
 
Chapel Entrance:     
     If you come into the church from the Chapel entrance, through the red doors that are dedicated to the memory of Joe Cameron, a longtime active member of our parish [the Cameron Doors], you may have noticed two windows, one on either side of the entrance. On the other hand, like most of us, you may have simply passed through on your way inside. Next time, turn around and look back. If you do, you will be rewarded with dramatic representations of the Easter theme of resurrection and new life.  Note: These two windows are entitled “He is Risen” and dedicated to the memory of William Leonard Ewers


<-- 66. Rainbow and Cross:
     On the left is the window with a rainbow and the empty cross. The cross rises out of clouds or, perhaps, the white shroud of the crucified Jesus as he lay in the tomb. The rainbow in the book of Genesis is a natural, physical reminder of God’s covenant with humankind, never to punish the earth with the flood waters of the Deep. For Christians it also evokes God’s faithfulness, grace and love in sending God’s only son to redeem us from sin and death. Like the rainbow after a dramatic thunderstorm we feel the overwhelming joy of salvation and new life.

67. Lily and Cross: --> 
     On the right is a lily springing up from the ground along with the cross. The array of colors conveys growth, vibrant life and living into Christ in new ways. The lily is the flower of Easter symbolizing resurrection. It is also associated with Mary and Jesus in other representations in our windows.



Handicapped Entrance by the Elevator

<-- 9.   David the Psalmist/23d Psalm
     If you enter the church from the front, up the ramp by the elevator, you will see two windows in the neo-classical style. As you look at the windows from the inside, the window on the left depicts King David in the the neo-classical style. Many psalms are attributed to King David, but, according to most biblical scholars, David did not actually write them. The most famous, of course, is the 23d Psalm which is the subject of the larger part of the window. The figure of Jesus at the top of the lower window links the Old and New Testaments. The small figures interspersed with the words of the psalm illustrate its meaning.

 Dedication:  To Jean Carol Bozell from her parents.

Note: For larger versions with full text of these two windows and the dedications are at Handicapped Windows.


10. Beatitudes -->
     The right-side window depicts the spiritual form of the Beatitudes (Blessed are the poor in spirit….) taken from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel (5:3-12). Jesus is depicted as a teacher, dressed in red and white, His traditional symbolic colors, symbolic of purity and the Holy Spirit. In the top window He is gesturing in the classical form of blessing with the first two fingers raised. The lower part of the windowillustrates those people who are the subject of the Beatitudes - those in need of spiritual grace and comfort. The borders of this window are done in a more traditional style, with blue rectangles containing black painted abstract designs.

  Dedication:  To Elizabeth S. McCletchie from the Northeast Circle 1950.











Flower Alcove [Bride's Room] - At the stairs to the Bride's Garden and Jatho Hall
 
<-- 11 & 12.  The Lord’s Prayer (double window)      If you turn around and walk into the Flower alcove, toward the stairs down to Jatho Hall, you will see a double window on the left: “Lord, teach us to pray". This is also a neo-classical window of painted glass. It uses lighter colors, and less intricate glass work. It is rich in symbols: Father in Heaven evokes creation; Word of God, speaks to the relationship between God the Father, God the Son and us. Jesus is again dressed in white and red clothing. There are also representations of daily bread, falling into temptation/evil (my favorite, a cloven hooved figure, obviously the devil, aflame and plummeting), shepherds, and God’s kingdom. Note that the 12 disciples are almost all on one side and below Jesus, making Him the focus of the piece. 

   Dedication:  To Howard Kenneth Kelley

Note: The two parts of the double window are:
    11.  The Lord’s Prayer on the left.
    12.  Lord Teach Us to Pray on the right











 









13. Come Let Us Sing unto the Lord -->  
     Next to the double window is “Come Let Us Sing Unto the Lord, and show ourselves glad in Him with psalms.” words of Psalm 95 that are incorporated into the Morning Prayer service. The window is neo-classical in design, but uses a modern subject - A contemporary woman is leading a boy and a girl (presumably her children) and two more children toward the church, which is clearly St. John’s. This is the only window in our collection that depicts our church. The positioning of the figures below the church building and staggered, creates a sense of movement toward the church and the worshipers anticipation of worshipping in the House where God is praised with songs and prayer.

     Dedication:  Given in Thankfullness To God For the Life of Helen Dundas Maclean by Her Family and Friends.

Note: For the text of these two windows and their dedications click-on Flower Alcove. For larger images of these two windows click-on Big Flower Alcove







     Next month we will get to know the apostles who are enshrined on the south window of the church above the balcony.

Richard Leslie, Parish Historian and
Dresser of Stained Glass Windows