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Window
Building Name: First United Methodist ChurchStudio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
City: Birmingham
Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)
Date of Window: 1958
Subject/Title of Window: Christ and the Children
Brief Description of Subject: This aisle window is signed at the bottom "Willet Studio Phila. Pa. 1958.
The following description from the book, "The Windows and Symbols of First Methodist Church Birmingham, Mich. edited by Dr. Arnold F. Runkel and privately published by the Church for its members in 1966.
CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN
The left lancet shows Christ preaching on the Mount (MATTHEW 5) to an attentive assemblage. He is seated on the mountain teaching his disciples The Beatitudes. A couple brings their little one to the Master to be healed. In each representation of Christ, the Christus Nimbus surrounds his head.
In the predella, Christ is speaking to Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees, who came at night inquiring the way to eternal life. Jesus answered: 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.' (JOHN 3:4) Surrounding the figures are the moon, stars and sky.
In the right lancet, Christ is blessing children who are, symbolically, of different nations and eras --- an Indian boy, a Dutch girl, a Chinese child, and on His lap, a Black child. A further human element is the presence of a pet in the arms of a little girl and flowers surrounding the children. 'Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' (MATTHEW 19:14)
The predella concerns Jesus when He stayed at Bethany in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Before retiring in the evening, He chides Martha, who is serving: 'Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' (LUKE 10:42)
Four of the corporate and spiritual Acts of Christian Mercy are symbolized in the window traceries. The loaf of bread represents feeding the hungry; the pitcher and glass, giving drink to the thirsty; the garment, clothing the naked; and the open manacles, freeing the enslaved.
The window of Christ and the Children is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Compson.
The left lancet shows Christ preaching on the Mount (MATTHEW 5) to an attentive assemblage. He is seated on the mountain teaching his disciples The Beatitudes. A couple brings their little one to the Master to be healed. In each representation of Christ, the Christus Nimbus surrounds his head.
In the predella, Christ is speaking to Nicodemus, a man of the Pharisees, who came at night inquiring the way to eternal life. Jesus answered: 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.' (JOHN 3:4) Surrounding the figures are the moon, stars and sky.
In the right lancet, Christ is blessing children who are, symbolically, of different nations and eras --- an Indian boy, a Dutch girl, a Chinese child, and on His lap, a Black child. A further human element is the presence of a pet in the arms of a little girl and flowers surrounding the children. 'Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' (MATTHEW 19:14)
The predella concerns Jesus when He stayed at Bethany in the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Before retiring in the evening, He chides Martha, who is serving: 'Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' (LUKE 10:42)
Four of the corporate and spiritual Acts of Christian Mercy are symbolized in the window traceries. The loaf of bread represents feeding the hungry; the pitcher and glass, giving drink to the thirsty; the garment, clothing the naked; and the open manacles, freeing the enslaved.
The window of Christ and the Children is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Compson.
Height: ~124"
Width: 57"
Christ and the Children
Christ and the Children canopy
Christ preaching on the Mount, left; Christ and the Children, right
Christ speaks to Nicodemus, left; Jesus and Lazarus, right
Christ and the Children signature
Christ and the Children outside
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
