Featured Window

Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Livonia

Window Shape: 2 (rectangle)

Date of Window: 1965

Subject/Title of Window: Early Protestant Reformation Figures

Brief Description of Subject: Originally the west nave wall was designed for a two panel window, however after about 40 years, the entire wall was replaced with clear glass to let more light into the Church. No longer confined by the original architecture, The two panels of each of the original windows were separated and reinstalled singularly, evenly spaced out across the west nave. The lower section of each of the original windows was vented, on re-installation these lower sections were sealed.

This west nave window depicts three important early figures in the Protestant Reformation.

Upper: Martin Luther (1483 - 1546). An Augustinian monk and professor of the Bible, he was appalled at the selling of indulgences to make one righteous before God. In protest, he wrote 95 arguments against this policy and nailed them on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. His later excommunication from the Catholic Church sparked the Protestant Reformation. In this window, Luther is costumed as an Augustinian monk nailing his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church.

Middle: Jean Calvin (1509 - 1564). Born in France, he authored "Institutes of the Christian Religion," considered the most important work on Protestant theology --- stressing the authority of the Bible and Divine predestination. He established a religious government in Geneva which became the center of Protestantism. In this window, he is pictured in academic garb with a long white stole, lecturing on the authority of the Bible.

Lower: John Knox (c.1513 - 1572). Born in Scotland, he was a priest in the Catholic faith before becoming a leader of the Reformation in Scotland. He was the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. In this window, he is pictured as a preacher, wearing a Geneva gown, holding a Bible in his left hand, and right hand raised, pointing skyward.

The window was designed by Eric Sundean, and signed by the maker at the bottom.

Condition of Window: Good

Height: 88"

Width: 24"

Type of Glass and Technique: Opalescent Glass, Lead Came

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