Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. John's Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Royal Oak

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1943

Subject/Title of Window: Parable of the Good Samaritan, Panel 2

Brief Description of Subject: This window was designed for this parish's Gothic styled church which opened in 1926. Subsequently the congregation needed a larger church and replaced this with a modern styled church which opened in 1957, and moved their stained glass windows to the new church. This window is located on the second level of the Gospel side transept.

The "Parable of the Good Samaritan Window," was originally a four panel window. At the top of each panel is the name of a different parable which can be found in the Gospel of Luke. Each panel, starting at the left and moving right, pictures a distinct scene from the Parable of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25 - 37. Above each scene is an inscription from that Parable (KJV), which tells what scene is depicted. The four panels were united by the inscription across the bottom: Verse 27 (KJV), "Love thy Lord thy God WITH ALL THY HEART, ... and love thy neighbor as thyself," and Verse 37 (KJV) "Do thou likewise." The borders consists of geometrical patterns, birds, angels, and miniature scenes. The new church was simply not designed to accommodate this window, and it was split up into four individual windows. Thus it can no longer be viewed as the artist intended.

At the top level of this window is pictured a woman who has lost a coin and is looking for it at night --- The "Parable of the Lost Coin" which is found in Luke 8:4 - 15.

Panel 1 started the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" with "A certain man fell among thieves," Verses 25 - 30

This is Panel 2 which depicts Verses 31 - 32 --- "And by chance there came A certain PRIEST that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And LIKEWISE A LEVITE, when he was at the place, came and looked on him. and PASSED him BY on the other side."

In the arch of the lower section of the window are two angels, shocked at what is transpiring below. They are holding a banner with the inscription, "A priest likewise a Levite passed by." Note: A Levite is a member of the tribe of Levi who are responsible for the religious activities of the Israelites; A Samaritan is a member of a sect that had split off from the Judeans and were considered heretics. The memorial inscription at the very bottom of the panels has been removed to allow the windows to fit their new location. Church records indicate the four panels that made up the original window were donated in memory of Joseph M. Smith and as a tribute to Mrs. Ella Smith, Mr. Fred I. Packard, and Mrs. Ida Packard by their son and daughter, respectively, Mr. and Mrs Leo W Smith, and dedicated on July 25, 1943.

Inscriptions: Lost Coin
A priest likewise a Levite passed by
With all thy heart and


Condition of Window: Good

Type of Glass and Technique: Lead Came

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