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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Mariners' Church

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

City: Detroit

Window Shape: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Subject/Title of Window: Peter and Andrew

Brief Description of Subject: The nave windows in the right side consists of figures of apostles and St. Paul along with their shield. Below this are scenes which, with but 2 exceptions, are taken from the life of Christ.

Above the lancets of Peter and his brother Andrew is seen a fish with a cross. The fish is a symbol for Christ --- this comes from the Greek word for "fish" which is "ICHTHYS"; the letters form an anagram of the Greek words for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior". The borders of the lancets are designed with oak leaves and acorns which symbolize strength.

In the left lancet is St. Peter holding keys. This attribute of keys comes from Matt. 16:18-19 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church .... And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." His shield contains a gold key (heaven) and a silver key (earth) and an upside down cross --- it is written in the Apocryphal book "Acts of Peter" 37-38 that Peter was crucified upside down.

In the right lancet is St. Andrew holding an oar and a fishing net. These allude to his profession as a fisherman --- Matt. 4:18-19 "And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen." Andrew's shield contains a saltire cross which stems from the legend that he was crucified on an "X" shaped cross, and 2 fishes which comes from Andrew's part in the miracle of the multiplying of the loaves and fishes -- John 6:8 "one of His disciples, Andrew, Simon's brother, said to Him 'This is a lad here who has 5 barley loaves and 2 small fishes, but what are they among so many?' "

The scene on the left is the "Baptism of Jesus" which is covered in the third chapter of Matthew. It begins with a description of John the Baptist's clothes Matt 3:4 "John himself was clothed in camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist." The picture and inscription come from Matt. 3:13-17 (KJV) "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized by him ... And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighted upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased." The shields at the top corners contain tongues of fire (Spirit of God).

The scene on the right is "Jesus Changes Water Into Wine" and is covered in John 2:1-11 (paraphrasing) Jesus, his mother and the disciples attended a wedding feast at Cana. When they ran out of wine, His mother asked Him to help and told the servants to do whatever He tells you. Jesus told the servants to fill six waterpots of stone with water and after they had done this, draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. When the master tasted the water it had changed to wine. The shields at the top corners contain an "anchor cross" which symbolizes the hope of eternal life through faith in Christ, and a fish entwined on a cross which symbolizes the Crucifixion.

James Vernor (1843-1927), the man memorialized in this window with his son, was a local pharmacist who created and sold the drink called "Vernor's Ginger Ale."

Inscriptions: In Memoriam
James Vernor
1843 1927
In Memoriam
James Vernor
1877 1954


Height: 14' 9.5"

Width: 4' 4.5"

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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.

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