Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Grace United Methodist Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Britton

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1971

Subject/Title of Window: Nativity

Brief Description of Subject: From a letter from The Willet Stained Glass Studios:
The Willet Studios here presents lumieres of faceted windows designed for Grace United Methodist Church. The nave aisles give a synopsis of Old and New Testament illustrated with rather abstract symbolism.

The third window contains symbols of the Nativity. Under the rays of the Star of Bethlehem is the manger cirb, flanked by shepherd's staves. In the manger is a chi rho (XP), ancient monogram for Jesus Christ.

Faceted glass windows are made by one of the new techniques appropriate to the more contemporary styles of architecture. Brilliantly colored glass, usually an inch in thickness, but up to two or more inches for special effects, is cut to the desired size. The inner surface of certain pieces is then chipped or faceted conchoidally to enhance the design and add a jewel-like quality. The matrix of epoxy, a synthetic resin, is poured around the carefully arranged piece of glass, and holds them in place to form a structural unit of great strength. It is the thickness of the glass which assures the breathtaking rediance and complete purity of color which are the outstanding characteristics of the medium.

From an unidentified church source:
Our stained glass windows were made by the Willet Studios of Philadelphia. The same company that Mr. Ray Herrick had do the windows at Adrain College Chapel. Faceted Lumineries - Faceted Glass - an inch or up to two inches or more thick. Chipped or faceted to enhance the design. A matrix of epoxy is poured around the carefully arranged pieces to hold them in place, to form a structural unit of great strength.

In the third window from the Narthex - I like to call the Christmas Window - near the top is the five pointed star - The Star of Bethlehem or Epiphany (Epiphany is the time the Christ child was shown to the Wise Men, who represent the Gentiles, and announced to the world that Christ was born, observed by many on the 6th of January.) No other star ever pointed man into as safe a harbor, as the Star of Bethlehem. Matt. 2: 24, 17. Rev. 22:16

Under the Star of Bethlehem is the manger crib, flanked by shepherds staves or crooks. Jesus helped his followers understand His nature by showing how He was like people and things they knew, fishermen, farmers, shephereds, etc. He said "I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me." "I lay down my life for my sheep." John 10:11-14

In the manger is a chi rho, appears as a cross and a P, an ancient monogram for Jesus Christ. The first two letters of Christ in Greek XPISTOS. The chi (X) sometimes turned sideways for a cross. Christs monogram, sometimes called ST. Andrews cross as Andrew was reported to have died on a cross of this shape. Esphesians 1:3

The conquoring King Timothy 6:15. This shaped cross with equal arms was favored by the Greeks, probably because they had an eye for perfect symmetry. Also known as the Cross of St. George.


Type of Glass and Technique: Slab or Faceted Glass (Dalle de Verre)

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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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