THE DIVINE DRAMA IN GLASS
First United Methodist Church Anderson, Indiana
Like everything else on earth, a piece of glass would be a dull dead object without the sun. This source of all light brings life not only to God’s creatures, but to everything it touches. From the beginning of time the sun has enriched the world with color, transforming the grey-black masses and seascapes that evolved as the earth solidified into a land of multi-hued splendor. It has been God’s greatest gift to man’s sight and soul.
Throughout the centuries, the words “stained glass” have come to be used synonymously with “stained glass windows.” Stained glass, actually, is colored glass, the color or stain being fused in during the process of formation. A stained glass window, then, is a window made up of colored glass, cut and shaped to form a definite pattern or design.
The windows in First United Methodist Church are crafted of faceted glass. In this unique process, brilliantly colored glass, each piece an inch or more in thickness, is cut in the desired sizes and shapes to create the design. The inner surfaces of certain pieces are then chipped or faceted to enhance the design and ad a jewel-like quality. A matrix of epoxy resin is poured around the carefully arranged pieces of glass to hold them in place and form a structural unit of great strength. The brilliance of the glass is due to its thickness and the faceting around the edges of certain pieces which refracts the light.
The windows were designed, constructed and installed by the artist-craftsmen of Willet Studios of Philadelphia, the largest stained glass studio in the United States—perhaps in the world. Under the direction of Henry Lee Willet, an internationally known stained glass artist, the windows were planned to complement the architecture and reflect the philosophy of the building as well as that of the congregation.
ICONOGRAPHY
Stained glass in the Church provides a ministry of color, adding inspiration and beauty to the worship service. Its main purpose, however, is to communicate, in a unique sort of way, the message of the Bible and the teachings of the scriptures.
Thus the windows of our church have an iconography—a message or story, told by means of a series of icons or symbols.
NORTH NAVE WINDOWS
(starting at rear of nave)
Creation – green
(nearest the entrance) The color green suggests the creation of the fruitful earth by God whose hand is prominent. Above the hand are the sun, moon and stars. Birds fly above and fishes swim below the globe of the earth. Below the creation is the “apple” tree of the Garden of Eden encircled with the serpents. The angel’s flaming sword signifies the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise when sin entered the world. At the bottom, Noah’s Ark is arched by a rainbow, symbolizing the Covenant. The messenger dove flies back to it, carrying an olive branch to show the waters were receding.
The Patriarchs – yellow
The shield with the many stars at the top recalls God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s seed until his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The brazier of fire and knife refer to Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son Isaac. Isaac’s symbol is a bundle of wood in the shape of a cross because his is considered a type of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jacob is shown by the ladder, up and down which he saw the angels climbing and which is also a symbol of aspiration. Jacob and his wife are the sun and moon surrounded by twelve stars which are his twelve sons, founds of the twelve tribes of Israel. The sheaves of wheat, all bowing down to one shear, are those of Joseph’s dream which presaged his future exalted position. The star above the standing sheaf shows that he was one of Israel’s sons.
The Law – orange
This window illustrates Moses’ life. At the top he is shown as a baby in the basket boat amid the rushes where his mother hid him to escape death. Next below is the burning bush where he saw God. When he and Aaron appeared before Pharoah, Aaron’s rod became a serpent. Most prominent in the window are the Tablets of the Law, the Ten Commandments. Below these he strikes water out of the rock of Horeb to refresh the Children of Israel who were crossing the wilderness. At the bottom is the golden calf that those backsliders worshipped when Moses was up on Mt. Sinai getting the Law from God. Around its base are fragments of the first set of Tablets that Moses broke in anger.
The Prophets – red
Perhaps it is the martyrdom of some of the prophets which gives the color red to this window. At the top, tongs hold a burning coal of fire with which Isaiah dreamed his lips were sealed to cleanse them and enable him to prophesy. The saw is the instrument of his martyrdom. Jeremiah was persecuted by being imprisoned in a cistern, next below. Daniel’s symbol is Shadrach, Meshach and Abedneggo in the fiery furnace, where they were saved by the presence of an angel. Daniel’s symbol is also the ram with great horns which figured in his apocalyptic dream. Next below is Amos’ staff for he was a shepherd and vinedresser. At the bottom, Hosea is symbolized by a skull and broken idol for he is the prophet of repentance.
The Nativity of Jesus Christ – purple
At the very top of this window is a small fleur de lys. This stylized lily represents the Annunciation and the purity of the Virgin Mary. Most prominent in the window is the manger containing a chi rho, sacred monogram for Jesus Christ, under the Star of Bethlehem. Near the manager are shepherd’s staffs. Next below are the two doves in a basket which were the ransom for the Holy Child when His parents presented Him at the Temple. The three crowns belong to the wisemen. The flight into Egypt is shown by the fasces of the lictor, symbol of Roman authority, combined with the pyramids. The visit of the boy Christ to the Temple is shown by a scroll and the lighted lamp of knowledge.
Baptism – blue
The baptistery contains a two panel window. Its chronology comes between Jesus’ birth and other events of His life so it refers to His Baptism and ministry. But it also refers to the Sacrament of Baptism as practiced by Christians down through the ages. The use of the dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit originates from the account of Jesus’ Baptism when a white dove flew from heaven and a voice was heard to say, “This is my beloved Son.” The symbol of fire is derived from the descent of the Spirit to the Faithful gathered in the Upper Room at Pentecost, when a tongue of flame seemed to illumine each countenance. The grace of the Holy Spirit, here shown as drops of water, falls from the dove, through the fire, to the fish-Christians swimming in the water beneath.
NORTH CHANCEL WINDOW
The Passion – gospel side chancel
The two chancel windows re-echo the blue of the baptistery. The darker color controls the light so the people seated in the church will not be facing a glare. The principal aspects of Christianity are contained near the front of the chancel and baptistery toward which the attention of the worshipper is focused. At the top of this window are wheat and grapes, the natural forms of the bread and wind of Communion. The chalice and host are at the center. Immediately beneath is a cock which crowed when Peter denied Jesus but is also the symbol of the continuing sins of humanity by which He is constantly betrayed. Next below are the basin and pitcher with which Pilate washed his hands of condemning “this just Man.” The ladder and sponge recall His thirst on the cross. At the bottom is the Cross, encircled with a crown of thorns and nails, flanked by the two smaller crosses of the two thieves.
SOUTH CHANCEL
The Resurrection – epistle side chancel
At the very top is a butterfly which is the symbol of life after death for all. Life on earth is like the crawling caterpillar which in time encloses itself in a cocoon – the grave. After a brief sleep a butterfly bursts out and flies on beautiful wings up to heaven. The next symbol is larger. Here is the Lamb of God emerging from the tomb, bearing aloft the banner of the victory of life over sin and death. Next below, the bursting pomegranate is also symbolic of Christ bursting from the tomb. The ancients thought that the mythical phoenix, instead of dying when old, set fire to its nest and rose rejuvenated from the flames. It, too, is a resurrection symbol. At the bottom is a symbol of Jesus’ Great Commission to go into the world preaching the Gospel and baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is shown by the open book and an escallop shell spilling three drops of water onto the world. The Gospel story told in the window ends with the old church building and the fire which made necessary the present building. In this way the Gospel story finds its life in Anderson, Indiana.
THE WESLEY ROOM WINDOWS
The total fenestration of the sanctuary—the entire window area—is devoted to the Divine Drama on which the Christian way of life is founded. In the larger side nave windows, baptistery and chancel, the whole way of Salvation from the Creation to the Resurrection has been depicted.
Now, as we leave the sanctuary, the Wesley windows remind us of the real world and challenge us to live according to the Acts of Faith as described in Matthew 25.
“for I was hungry and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”
THE TOWER WINDOWS
As a crowning glory and to fulfill the promise to proclaim the Truth to the whole world, we look to the tower. In olden times the towers of a city’s churches stood higher than the surrounding buildings. Even though today a church may be overshadowed by a neighboring office or apartment building, the tower remains the Church’s witness to the community. As colored signs advertise businesses and products which satisfy the community’s physical needs, the windows in the tower of First United Methodist Church were planned to proclaim the presence of Jesus Christ and the Church’s concern to satisfy the spiritual needs of the community.
The symbolic colors of the tower windows join with the rich colorings of the baptistery, as they rise above it. The wing-like shapes suggest flying birds and the Christian’s aspiration to lead his fellowmen upward to a fuller and richer life.
| Those Who Have Contributed |
| John W. Slattery family |
In memory of John |
Mr. and Mrs. A. Harold Wood
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| Mr. and Mrs. Larry J. Deck |
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| The James Lantz family |
In memory of our parents |
| Mr. and Mrs. Russell G. Baker |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Merrill L. Almquist |
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| Elizabeth Dilts |
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Cates, Mrs. Effie Goldsmith, Emma Jean Goldsmith |
United Methodist Youth Fellowship
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| Mrs. Carl (Jean B.) Goehring |
In memory of my husband Carl |
| Mr. and Mrs. James F. Ault |
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| Mr. and Mrs. James P. Gale |
In memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Gale, Rev. and Mrs. D. M. Church |
| Dr. and Mrs. John Vayhinger |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Imler |
In honor of Rev. and Mrs. Earl D. Imler |
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Slick
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Mr. and Mrs. William Paul Roseberry
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Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Runyon
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In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Earl K. Roseberry |
| Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. McKee |
In memory of Rev. and Mrs. R. Lowell Wilson |
Vernon L. Hoehn
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In memory of Ruth M. Hoehn |
Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Buck
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The Charles R. King family and
Mr. and Mrs. Carl King
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Mrs. E. Russell Stewart II, Chad and
Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Brant
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In memory of Sgt. E. Russell Stewart II |
Boy Scout Troop No. 302
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In honor of Scouting |
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Imler
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| Rev. and Mrs. William Imler |
In honor of
Rev. and Mrs. Earl D. Imler |
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Mohler
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Mr. and Mrs. Robert Imler
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Mr. and Mrs. Donald Imler
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In honor of
Rev. and Mrs. Earl D. Imler |
Mr. and Mrs. Mark C. Williamson
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Vivian McGranahan
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Edith Whiteford
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In memory of
Hazel Whiteford |
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Sailors
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Dan Sailors
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Odessa Campbell
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Evelyn A. and Mrs. Elmer E. Warner
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In memory of Elmer E. Warner |
Elizabeth L. and Howard Wolgamott
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| Mrs. J. C. Stinson |
In memory of my daughter and
Son-in-law Marian and Maurice Fleece |
Mr. and Mrs. Theo Miller
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In honor of our grandchildren |
Mr. and Mrs. John Judkins
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In memory of our parents |
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Johnson
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In memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon C. Ayers
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. E. Johnson |
The family of Ward K. Stilson
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Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kollegge
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Mr. and Mrs. Hugh M. Cherry
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Angeline Belisio
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Frances Webb
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Theta Byrkett
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Marie S. Thomas
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Mrs. Ralph L. Gray
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Mr. and Mrs. Russell L. Johnson
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Mr. and Mrs. John J. Garrett
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| Dr. and Mrs. Virgil Bjork |
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| Leroy Cottrell |
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| Mrs. Jeanette Stout |
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| Treva A. Clanin |
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| Philip C. Watson |
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| Kenneth E. Rushton |
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| Thelma Payne |
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| Kathryn P'Simer |
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| Donald G. Moore |
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| Maude O. Coffin |
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| Golda Humbles |
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| Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Richeson |
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| Mr. and Mrs. David B. Geyer |
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| Anna M. Sylvester |
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| Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Hirsch and family |
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| Harold B. and Alice T. Lockwood |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Waymire |
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| Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bonge |
In memory of Carl M. Bonge |
| Dr. and Mrs. Max B. Culler and family |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Stephen W. Genda |
In memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Groves
Mrs. Kathryn J. Jones |
| Elinor Waymire |
In memory of my mother Leah Stage Johnson |
| Dr. Donald P. Bixler and family |
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| R. Lowell and Mary K. Breeden |
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| William D. and Emogene M. Bayer |
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| Herman and Faye Landes |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Hudson, Jr. |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Wiley A. Sparks |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Russell Myers |
In memory of our parents |
| Mr. and Mrs. Phil Gaar |
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| Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Amos and family |
In memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Amos |
| Elizabeth Clanin |
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| Edna Livengood |
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| David Weatherford |
In memory of
Ira and Mae Weatherford |
| Mrs. E. A. Bailey |
In memory of my husband and son
E. A. Bailey and Robert Bailey |
| The J. H. Coyner family |
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