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Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

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MSGC : Collections : Window

Window

Building Name: Historic Trinity Lutheran Church

Studio Name: Willet Hauser Architectural Glass

City: Detroit

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

Date of Window: 1930

Subject/Title of Window: I Am the Vine

Brief Description of Subject: From, "An Interpretation of the Stained Glass Windows in Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan. By their maker: Henry Lee Willet."

Large Front Window
The large front window contains the Tree of Life, or the Vine and the branches at its subject: At the base of the four side panels is shown a procession of the Nations - at the left: German, French, English, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Scandanavian, the Magyars; at the right Esquimaux, American Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabian, Hindu, African and Turk. This procession leads up to the central opening at the base of which is a heroic figure of Our Lord. "All Nations Shall Serve Him."

At His feet on a smaller scale are Adam and Eve, the latter being tempted by Satan in the form of a serpent, while at the same time the serpent is being crushed beneath the feet of Our Lord. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Out of Christ grows the Tree of Life spreading into all parts of the window. An angel holds the scrolls which read: "I am the vine, ye are the branches."

The first tier contains the figures of St. John, Paul, Tertullian, Athanasius, Ambrose, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Ansgard and Bernard.
The second tier contains Luther, Melancthon, Bugenhagen, Gustavus Adolphus, Hus, Cranach, Gerhardt, Ursula Cotta, Bach, Chemnitz, Harms, Cranmer.
The third tier contains: Calvin, Knox, Wesley, Coligny, Falkner, Muhlenberg, Krauth, Walther, Waldo.

This brings us to the top of the central panel which portrays symbolic parenthood: the mother and father holding aloft the young child, the future church leader who holds in his hands the uplifted torch of knowledge, as his life is gradually eclipsed by the pefect image of Christ.

The traceries have the Apocalyptic vision of Christ in glory seated on the throne, His feet on the world, surround by four beasts, the sun and moon, with the Book of Life in His hands, and flowing from the throne the river of life flowing down through Jerusalem, and round about the four and twenty elders with sparking raiment bright playing upon their harps and with crowns upon their heads, and the four horsemen of Death, Conquest, Famine and War, while all about are the angelic hosts praising God.

Starting in 1996 all of the Willet windows were sent back to their studio in Philadelphia for restoration. The restored windows were re-dedicated in 1998.

Condition of Window: Good

Type of Glass and Technique: Antique or Cathedral Glass, Lead Came

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