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: Ministry of Jesus

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 ministry of Jesus is shown in the next window. Most prominent is an open book, the Gospel. Jesus taught many lessons by means of parables which people like those who composed his audience: fishermen, farmers, shepherds, etc. Here is the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven likened to a tiny mustard seed, which grows into a tree large enough to house the birds in its branches.

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.

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


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

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