Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Mariners' Church

Studio Name: Lamb (J. and R.) Co.

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: Michael and Uriel

Brief Description of Subject: According to the book "The Windows of Old Mariners' " by Jean M. Fox, the nave windows on the left side were dedicated to different branches of the Armed Forces. This is the fifth window and is dedicated to the Air Force. Below the angels (heaven's Air Force!), are the shields of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Flag. Additionally, this window and the one next to it, which also features 2 angels (totaling 4 angels), is dedicated to the 4 chaplains, a Rabbi, a Catholic, and 2 Protestants, who were aboard the U.S.T.A Dorchester when it was torpedoed during WW2. They sacrificed their lives by giving their life jackets away so that others could live.

Above the lancets is the right hand of God the Father. The borders of the lancets are decorated with oak leaves and acorns --- a symbol of strength.

The left lancet features Michael the Archangel in Medieval armor. On top of Michael's head is the "tongue of angels" (the Holy Spirit --1 Corinthians 13:1 and Acts 2:3). The scene below is inscribed "CONQUEROR OF EVIL" and based on Rev. 12:7-8 (RSV) "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven." In the top corners are shields that contain a scale --- Christian tradition has Michael weighing souls at the Last Judgment, and the sun --- Michael is sometimes known as the "Angel of the Sun".

The right lancet features Uriel the Archangel. The Hebrew name "Uriel" can be translated as "God is my Light, "Fire of God", or "Sun of God". He is considered a saint in the Anglican Church and is the patron saint of the Sacrament of Confirmation which bestows the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit on those being confirmed. Uriel appears in 2 Esdras 4 (NRSV) --- Ezra asks God questions and in reply, God sends Uriel to answer them, hence Uriel is known as the bestower of wisdom. Uriel is seen holding the sun (God's light), and under his feet is a winged wheel which is the symbol of swiftness. On top of his head is the "tongue of angels". The scene below is inscribed "BRINGER OF LIGHT" and pictures Uriel holding a "tongue of fire" which is enlightening the world. In the shields at the top corners are an equilateral triangle topped with a tongue of fire, and scroll (wisdom).

Inscriptions: In Memoriam
The Rt. Rev. Richard W. Ingalls
1926 2006
In Memoriam
Paxton Mendelssohn II
1912 2005


Height: 14' 9.5"

Width: 4' 4.5"

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.

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