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Featured Window

Window of the Month
Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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Window

Building Name: First United Methodist Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Birmingham

Window Shape: 6 (gothic arched, more than 2 vertical sections)

Date of Window: 1960

Subject/Title of Window: Music

Brief Description of Subject: 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.

The three lancet window in the music room was designed to indicate the role music has played through the ages in the service of religion. At the top of the central lancet is the figure of Christ holding a chalice, the smaller figures of Apostles surrounding him. The central scene illustrates the essential part music had in the conduct of worship of even the earliest Christians. The specific instance represented here is that of the Last Supper when Christ instituted the Sacrament of Communion. ‘And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. (MATTHEW 26:30)

Beneath this, also in the central lancet are two further references to music in Biblical times. Miriam, sister of Moses is seen accompanying herself on the tumbrel, singing a song of thanksgiving for the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Her song is, perhaps the first piece of liturgical music. These words, taken from Exodus 15, are still sung in the synagogue as part of the service. David, the Psalmist is shown kneeling with his harp. The Psalms, which is authored are again, an integral part of our worship service today.

The left lancet pictures the composures of some of the hymns we use in contemporary worship service; Luther, Palestrina, Bach and Wesley.

The right lancet illustrates the music of the First Methodist Church, the organist, choir mistress and the junior and senior choirs that add the beauty of their music to all our Worship Services.

Through the top of all the lancelets are seen the heavenly host, the angels of God, eternally praising him playing various types of ancient instruments.

The Music Room Window was presented by Mr. and Mrs Roy Abernethy in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Abernethy and Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Nunnally.


Height: ~110"

Width: 70"

The Music Window
The Music Window
The Music Window top
The Music Window top
The Music Window bottom
The Music Window bottom
The Music Window signature
The Music Window signature
The Music Window outside
The Music Window 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