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: 1942

Subject/Title of Window: Christ and the Children, Panel 1

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 it with a modern styled church which opened in 1957, moving the stained glass to the new Church. This window is now located on the second level of the Gospel side transept.

The "Christ and the Children Window," in the old Church, was a four panel window. At the top of each panel is a picture of a youth from Scriptures. The scene below is usually called "Suffer Little Children" from the King James Version of the text in Matthew 19:13 - 15, (inscription at bottom of this panel is capitalized), " Then they brought unto him little children, that he would put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence." The borders of each panel are made up of geometrical patterns alternating with miniature scenes of children at play, school, or in prayer.

The new church was simply not designed to accommodate the four panel scene and it was split up into three parts. Thus it can no longer be viewed as the artist intended.

This is Panel 1 which is the left most panel of the original window.

At the top level of this panel is pictured a youthful Samuel holding a censor and the Torah. His mother, Hannah, was childless and promised God, if he granted her a child, she would present it to God. She had a son she named "Samuel," and presented him at Shiloh to be raised by the high priest Eli, who trained him to be a priest --- thus the censor and Torah. God would later turn against Eli and told Samuel he was to be a prophet.

The scene pictures two duly rebuked disciples and a boy, all looking in the direction of Jesus (see panel 2 & 3). In the arch is an angel pointing to the disciples. The memorial inscription at the bottom is not entirely visible. Church records indicate that Panel 1 and Panel 2 were given as a tribute to Reverend Charles C. Jatho by Mr. and Mrs A. William Esslinger and dedicated on December 20, 1942.

Inscriptions: Samuel
Suffer the little children


Condition of Window: Good

Type of Glass and Technique: Lead Came

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