Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Click any image to enlarge.

MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. James Episcopal Church

Studio Name: Lamb (J. and R.) Co.

City: Birmingham

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Subject/Title of Window: One Was a Doctor - Albert Schweitzer

Brief Description of Subject: This window is located on the aisle of the Children's Chapel. All windows in the Chapel were designed to relate to children and provide a learning experience for them.
 
The inscription "I Sing A Song Of The Saints Of God" is the title of a children's song composed by Lesbia Scott. The song has been added to the Episcopal Hymnal as #292 with the recommendation that it is to be sung on All Saints Day. The Inscription "One Was A Doctor" is the start of a couplet in the first stanza of that song. The next two windows on this aisle will have inscriptions that complete the couplet. The Church selected Albert Schweitzer for this window as an example of a saintly doctor.
 
Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965) was a true Renaissance Man. He became a Lutheran Pastor, and wrote "The Quest For The Historical Jesus." He was a renowned organist, and Bach scholar, writing the two volume work "J.S.Bach." He became a medical doctor, and went to what is now Gabon, Africa, as a medical missionary. He was an animal rights activist. In 1953 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his altruism, reverence for life, and tireless humanitarian work."
 
In this window, Albert Schweitzer is portrayed as a doctor administering to the native children of Gabon. The palm tree refers to the location of Gabon in Africa. The animals refer to his advocacy of animal rights --- note the dog, chicken, and bird are similar to the ones on the Schweitzer medal which is awarded by the Animal Welfare Institute to honor those for outstanding achievements in animal welfare.
 
In the predella is a caduceus, the symbol of a Doctor of Medicine, and an organ manual which identifies him as an organist.
 
The writings at the bottom right identify the designer as Katherine Lamb Tate of the Lamb Studios.

Inscriptions: I Sing A Song Of The Saints Of God
Albert Schweitzer
One Was A Doctor


Condition of Window: Excellent

Height: 51"

Width: 39"

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass

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