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.

On the evening before His crucifixion Jesus gathered His disciples together to celebrate the ritual meal of the Passover. Upon that occasion He washed their feet to the protests of Peter. The basin, towel and pitcher have a larger significance than that one instance. They typify service to others. Above are the elements of the feast, the bread and chalice of wine. The palm branch recalls His triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of that week or, in a larger sense, the triumph of eternal life.

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.

The fifth window from the Narthex we can call the Palm Sunday Window. On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples together to celebrate the ritual neal of Passover. Upon that occasion, He washed their feet to the protest of Peter. The basin, towel, and pitcher can be seen in the lower part of the window. They have a larger significance than that one entrance, they typify service to others. Read John 13:3-7.

Above in the center of the window can be seen the chalice of wine, and the plate for the unleavened bread. Read Mark 14:1-26

The Palm branch above the bread recalls His triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of that week, in a larger sense, the triumph of enternal life. Read Luke 19:28-40


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

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