Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.

MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Paul Lutheran Church

City: Dearborn

Window Shape: 6 (gothic arched, more than 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: Symbols and Portrait of Jesus

Brief Description of Subject: This window, located in the gospel side transept, consists of four lancets under a canopy. Although differing in colors, these lancets share the same design in their roundels and predella with the the two lancets on the edges of the facade window as well as the two in the center of the epistle side window. Most likely these lancets were the aisle windows in their previous Church.
 
At the center of the quatrefoil in the canopy are lily blossoms. The lily blossoms in the Spring becoming a symbol for new life, thus its identity with the resurrection --- the Easter lily.
 
In the first lancet's roundel is a cross passing through a crown. Its meaning comes from James 1:12, paraphrasing, "The crown that awaits us in heaven for the cross we bear on earth. The Inscription on the predella identifies the donor as Julius Drews.
 
In the second lancet's roundel is a dove holding olive leaves in its beak. Its symbol for "peace" has a biblical origin. In Genesis 8:11 a dove comes back to Noah with an olive leaf in its beak and Noah realizes that the great flood is over --- God has made peace with mankind and life will return on earth. The inscription in the predella identifies the donor as the "Classes of 1904 - 1912."
 
In the third lancet's roundel is the sun, and in a cloud the 10 commandments. Also seen are a sword, and what looks like palm leaves. Exodus 19 - 20 relates that in the morning a thick cloud descended over Mt. Sinai, and God called Moses up and gave him what we call the 10 Commandments. Using Roman numerals, the left tablet is numbered 1 - 3 while the right tablet is 4 - 10. This is meant to reference that in the Lutheran version of the 10 Commandments the first three pertain to our relationship to God while the last seven pertain to humanity's relationship to humanity. The sword symbolizes God's power to separate good from evil. This comes from Jeremiah 25:31, The Lord declares, "He will bring judgement on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword." The inscription in the predella identifies the donor as "Classes of 1904 - 1912." 
 
In the fourth lancet's roundel is a portrait of Jesus wearing a pendant, and in the background is a cross. The pendant is pictured with the flower of the dogwood tree which is a symbol of Jesus' crucifixion --- it is a Spring flower with four petals in the shape of a cross, and at its edges are marks which symbolize the four nail holes. Legend has it that the cross of Jesus' resurrection was made out of dogwood. The inscription in the predella identifies the donors as "C. and M. Broehm."

Inscriptions: Julius Drews
Classes of 1904 - 1912
C. and M. Broehm


Height: 19'

Width: 12'

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Antique or Cathedral Glass

The MSGC is a constantly evolving database. Not all the data that has been collected by volunteers has been sorted and entered. Not every building has been completely documented.

All images in the Index are either born-digital photographs of windows or buildings or are scans of slides, prints, or other published sources. These images have been provided by volunteers and the quality of the material varies widely.

If you have any questions, additions or corrections, or think you can provide better images and are willing to share them, please contact donald20@msu.edu