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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Plymouth

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

Date of Window: 1937

Subject/Title of Window: Resurrection

Brief Description of Subject: Background notes: The Resurrection window is located directly behind the altar. In 1955 there was an addition to the building complex that completely blocks all light to this window so that is now lit artificially. The scriptures begin the story of the Resurrection with the discovery of the open tomb, thus artists are left to their imagination as to how they want to picture the moment Jesus rose from the grave. During the 16th to roughly the 18th century depictions of the Resurrection with Christ hovering in the air were discouraged -- feet had to be on the ground. There are a number of icons used in this window. At the top of the center lancet is the "Dextera Dei" --- the right hand of God the Father. It dates from the early Medieval period when God the Father was not depicted as a full figure. It is used to show the appearance or the approval of God. A banner with a cross has symbolized the Resurrection (victory over death) since the days of Charlemagne. As in Hebrews 2:9 we see with the Resurrection, Christ no longer wears the Crown of Thorns, but is now crowned with the honor and glory of a king. Two silver trumpets comes from Numbers 10: 1-3 "The Lord said to Moses ' Make two trumpets of hammered silver, .... When both are sounded the whole community is to assemble before you.' " Psalm 47:5 "The Lord has ascended amid the sounding of trumpets." The butterfly is a symbol of the Resurrection as it goes through 3 stages --- first a caterpillar that eats and represents life on earth, second stage is the cocoon -- which symbolizes the tomb, the third stage is the butterfly which symbolizes the Resurrection now free from earthly bounds.

Window description: The left panel depicts an angel with a silver trumpet. The medallion above the angel is a chalice symbolizing the blood of Christ. The right panel likewise contains an angel with a silver trumpet. The angel is pointing upwards to heaven. Above the angel is a kingly crown denoting Christ as the "King of Kings" (Rev 19:16). Middle panel shows the rising Christ with stigmata hovering above the ground. He is holding a banner with a cross on it -- the Resurrection Banner. Christ's crucifix nimbus has crowns at the ends of the cross. Above the banner at the very top of the window is the "Dextera Dei". A butterfly appears at the bottom of the middle lancet but is difficult to see as the organ pipes now obstruct its view from most angles.

The middle lancet of this window was donated by the Gates Family, August and Anna. The outer lancets were donated by Reverend Walter Nichol.

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