Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Episcopal Church of the Mediator

Studio Name: Hector and Smith Glass

City: Harbert

Window Shape: 4 (rounded or rose window)

Date of Window: 2010

Subject/Title of Window: Rose Window

Brief Description of Subject: Beneath the arms of the cross are set the alpha and omega letters. The four quadrants are filled with images dear to Father Charles Frandsen to whom the window is dedicated. New moon, pine cones, flowers, birds, wheat, grapes, snowflakes. Here in this beautiful window, dedicated to The Rev. Charles Frandsen, the images of our faith come together. Beneath the arms of the cross we see the alpha and the omega letters, first within the new greens beginning in the spring and then opposite in the rich colors of autumn. This reflects the main theme of the window “I am the Alpha and the Omega...” said our Lord. The full spectrum of color reminds us of the rainbow linking heaven and earth as in the first covenant “God sent a rainbow...” the deep border below appears to receive and hold the cross like a cup. Radiantly, the sun shines in an arc above. Below, a new moon rises in the spring while an old moon sinks from the autumn into winter. The dance of creation continues around the circle. You will find many shapes and groupings suggesting our abundant earth. Within the deeper tones of fall and winter we find a pine cone and fruits. At the foot of the cross an acorn with a dark heart shape within. Looking further and using a little imagination, we can find many other things too - hyacinth, passion flower, butterfly, fern and a blue bird. At the foot of the alpha is a spring of lilacs, while the omega brings forth the shaft of wheat and grapes. Running the circle is a parade of stars moving up through summer and down into the deeper blues and purples of the sky, finally turning into snowflakes. The fiery crown of Pentecostal flames proclaims our faith, celebrating the presence of the Holy Spirit among us. Of special significance are several elements; the yellow rose is for Ianthe Frandsen, Father Frandsen’s wife, the blue bird is for Father Frandsen’s daughter, Tina, who was an avid bird lover, and nestled in the spring of the omega is a Shasta daisy for Father Frandsen’s daughter Lisa, her favorite flower.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 6'

Width: 6'

Type of Glass and Technique: Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

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