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Window
Building Name: First United Methodist ChurchStudio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass
City: Birmingham
Window Shape: 4 (rounded or rose window)
Subject/Title of Window: The Great Commission
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 Rose Medallion is the largest of the several dozen stained glass windows at First United Methodist Church. Together these windows depict the panorama of the creation, and the unfolding of God’s purpose to redeem man as prophesized in the Old Testament and as it found expression in the birth, ministry, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All comes to a climax in the great Rose Window, located in the balcony of the sanctuary.
The Rose Window, often associated with great cathedrals is not named because of its color but because of its shape; it resembles a rose in full bloom. The predominant color in this window is a rich, brilliant blue, with flashes of red, gold and harmonizing colors. The window is believed to be one of the most beautiful in this area.
The large, twelve-point Rose Window contains a challenge and common to all who study it to carry the gospel or good news, throughout the world. Its subject is the Great Commission. Thus, approximately three feet from the window’s center beginning at the nine o clock position and running clockwise is the verse:
Go ye all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
At the center of the window is the Lamb of God (angus De). The lamb is crowned with a three rayed nimbus signifying the divinity of the Son and it bears the banner of the Church Triumphant. It is accompanied by the Chi Rho symbol, and abbreviation of the Greek word for Christ.
The twelve rose petals contain the symbols of the Apostles (Mathias having been substituted for Judas). Staring at the upper right (at one o’clock) and proceeding clockwise, they are as follows:
Andrew- Crossed Fishes
Philip-Basket of Tau Cross
Bartholomew- Three flaying knifes
Thomas-Leather girdle and three stones
James the Less-Saw, handle up
Matthew-Three purses
Jude-Sailboat
Simon-Fish impaled on boat hook
Mathias- Book and Halberd
Peter-Two keys crossed
James-Three scallop shells
John-Serpent issuing from chalice
The Great Commision is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lang.
The Rose Window, often associated with great cathedrals is not named because of its color but because of its shape; it resembles a rose in full bloom. The predominant color in this window is a rich, brilliant blue, with flashes of red, gold and harmonizing colors. The window is believed to be one of the most beautiful in this area.
The large, twelve-point Rose Window contains a challenge and common to all who study it to carry the gospel or good news, throughout the world. Its subject is the Great Commission. Thus, approximately three feet from the window’s center beginning at the nine o clock position and running clockwise is the verse:
Go ye all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
At the center of the window is the Lamb of God (angus De). The lamb is crowned with a three rayed nimbus signifying the divinity of the Son and it bears the banner of the Church Triumphant. It is accompanied by the Chi Rho symbol, and abbreviation of the Greek word for Christ.
The twelve rose petals contain the symbols of the Apostles (Mathias having been substituted for Judas). Staring at the upper right (at one o’clock) and proceeding clockwise, they are as follows:
Andrew- Crossed Fishes
Philip-Basket of Tau Cross
Bartholomew- Three flaying knifes
Thomas-Leather girdle and three stones
James the Less-Saw, handle up
Matthew-Three purses
Jude-Sailboat
Simon-Fish impaled on boat hook
Mathias- Book and Halberd
Peter-Two keys crossed
James-Three scallop shells
John-Serpent issuing from chalice
The Great Commision is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lang.
Height: 11'
Width: 11'
The Great Commission
Go you into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew
Thomas, James the Less, Matthew
Jude, Simon, Mathias
Peter, James, John
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
