Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: First Presbyterian Church

City: Pontiac

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

Date of Window: 1923

Subject/Title of Window: Four Evangelists/Nativity

Brief Description of Subject: This large façade window was in place when the Church was dedicated in 1924. The window consists of three main parts:

Canopy --- ornamental design using predominately pastel colors. Tracery in the Gothic perpendicular style.

Middle section --- made up of six lancets. The middle four depict the Gospel writers. From left to right, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are all pictured with either a book or scroll, attributes of a writer of scriptures. The side lancets contain shields with inscriptions --- on the left, "Truth Will Prevail," in this context, "truth" refers to the "Word of God," on the right, "Watch and Pray," words spoken by Jesus to his disciples at Gethsemane, "Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41 KJV).

Bottom section --- made up of six panels. The middle four depict the Nativity. This design incorporates parts of Luke's version and Matthew's version. In Matthew's version, Wise Men from the East see a star that is an omen for the birth of the King of the Jews. The window uses Matthew 2:11, "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh," (KJV). In Luke's version, An angel appeared to shepherds and informed them that today in Bethlehem, the Messiah had been born and they will find him in a manger. This window uses Luke 2:16, "And they came with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger," (KJV). The side panels contain shields with inscriptions --- on the left, "Peace On Earth," on the right, "Goodwill To Men." These words are taken from Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," (KJV).

Concerning this window an insurance estimator wrote: "Glass in figures and scenes, a combination of hand blown antique and rolled Cathedral. Background glass rolled Cathedral. [Window installed] circa 1920 - 1923 Artist: In the manner of Detroit Stained Glass.

Height: ~27'

Width: 18'

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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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