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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: 5 (gothic arched, 2 vertical sections)

Date of Window: 1930

Subject/Title of Window: Jude, Stephen, and Philemon

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

Clerestory No. 8   Jude, Stephen, and Philemon.
Jude holds the club with which he was martyred and a ship symbolic of his journeys. The shields contain his various symbols.

Stephen, the first Christian martyr, holds in his hands stones symbolic of his martyrdom, and the palm, symbolic of his victory in the Lord. The predella shows the stoning of Stephen with Saul standing by, holding the cloaks of the persecutors. The shields show his symbol of the martyr's wealth.

Philemon is reading the letter sent to him by Paul about his slave Onesimus. At Philemon's feet is the miter, symbolic of his later bishopric. The shields show the money bag showing him to be a wealthy man, and the church symbolic of his later ministry.

One of the shields of St. Jude contains a boat hook and a builder's square, symbolizing his journeys to establish churches. The shield in the canopy contains an oar, a spear, and an upside down long cross.

St. Stephen is wearing a dalmatic with the Christogram "IHC." The shield in the canopy depicts a dalmatic --- symbolizing that he was a deacon.

The shield in the canopy of St. Philemon pictures the liturgical vestment called a stole, symbolizing he was a clergyman.

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: Fair

Height: ~12'

Width: 6'

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

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