Understanding Our Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass windows, paintings, and icons were not originally placed in a church facility as decorations. When various items of art were placed in the interior of the buildings, they were received by the members as a means of Christian education.

The use of stained glass has a long tradition in the Church. Besides their lesser decorative and lighting purposes, stained glass windows were used as teaching or catechetical devices through the depiction of scenes from the Bible or key religious symbols. Therefore, stained glass windows were experienced as the Bible in picture form and could then be used by preachers to help a poorly educated, or even illiterate, congregation to understand Scripture and its teachings. Many people came to know the stories of the Bible, and specifically those of our Lord’s life, ministry, death, Resurrection, and Ascension, by meditating on the depictions portrayed in the windows. The windows were then used as a source of reflection and prayer afterwards, much as someone today might read a Scripture passage as a source of prayer.

For us today, stained glass windows should also be more than beautiful decorations. We, too, can use the windows to remind ourselves of the stories from Holy Scripture. By meditating on various aspects of the scene, we can discover a new or renewed encounter regarding not only the story but also our Faith.

The stained glass windows within Saint Anne Episcopal Church are nineteenth century German. They were made in Munich at the end of that century (late 1800’s) and shipped to a church in New England. When that building was being dismantled, our parish purchased the stained glass windows. As one walks through the church, examining the stained glass windows, you will notice that many of the windows have been given as a memorial gifts.
Below you will find a brief description of each window. The journey will generally travel chronologically through the events of the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with the presentation of Mary at the Temple and concluding with the Feast of Pentecost. After these, the windows depicting several saints of the Church (the Virgin Mary, authors of the Gospels, and Agnes) are described.

Life Of Christ

		The Presentation Within the sanctuary is a double set depicting the presentation of Mary at the Temple. In the frame on the left is the high priest receiving the young girl. In the right frame is Joachim and Anne, Mary’s parents. Behind Mary is the Angel Gabriel. Saint Anne, the mother of Mary, is the individual for whom this parish is named.
		The Annunciation In the Nave, on the left side as one faces the altar, a single window depicts the image of the angel Gabriel, the left panel of the Annunciation story. The angel’s words to Mary were, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” The young virgin had found favor with God and would bear the son of God, the Messiah, the savior of the world, Jesus. The word “angel” means messenger” (Luke 1:26-33). An angel appeared to Joseph in the Gospel According to Matthew and announced the identity of the child Mary bore (Matthew 1:18-23). In the Narthex, the entrance into the worship space and where the bell tower is located, you will find the second panel of the Annunciation, depicting Mary kneeling as the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove hovered over her. Mary responded to the message of the angel with, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary continues to be to the Church a wonderful example of saying “yes” to God. Just as she bore the Christ child, the Church is reminded that she too carries Christ in herself and must make Him present to and for the world (Luke 1:34-38).
		The Holy Nativity Next to the door to the sacristy is the depiction of the Holy Nativity, the birth of Jesus. On the left is the holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. To the right are the shepherds who, upon hearing the angel’s proclamation, went to see for themselves the birth of this King.
		Jesus in the Temple Along the left, when entering from the Narthex, one sees a window pair showing Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-51). It was expected that the students would spend time questioning their Teacher and one sees, at the age of 12, Jesus enjoyed the debate. The Rabbis were amazed at His understanding and His answers. A few days along their journey home from Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph discovered that the boy was not there, so they returned to the Temple. They were astonished to find Him in the Temple. He asked, ‘Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
		The Baptism of Jesus Above the choir loft is the depiction of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Jesus was 30 years old when He was baptized. The baptism brought with it the anointing (which is what Christ and Messiah means) of the Holy Spirit. After His baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted. Upon His return, He began His ministry and journey to Golgatha and the empty tomb (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-12, Luke 3:21-23).
		Jesus with the Children In the Gospel According to Matthew we are told that the children were brought to Jesus so that He might lay hands on them and pray for them. The disciples attempted to keep this from happening but Jesus stopped them and commanded that the children be brought to Him (Matthew 19:13-15). This window pair is located in the sanctuary.
		The Widow of Narn Also in the sanctuary, one sees a pair of windows depicting the story of Jesus who, upon entering the city of Nain, encountered a funeral procession. A young man had died, leaving his mother with no one to care for her. Jesus told her not to cry and He commanded that the man arise. The young man sat up and began to speak. In this window pair showing the widow of Nain and the raising of her son from the dead, one sees Jesus with an arm stretched out to the son while the other begins to move the mother toward her son, reuniting them (see Luke 7:11-17).
		The Trial of Jesus Just on the left when entering the Nave from the Narthex is the window illustrating the trial of Jesus (Matthew 27:1-25, Mark 15:1-15. Luke 23:1-25, John 18: 28 -19:16). Pilate stood before Jesus and His accusers, with no one there to defend the King of the Jews. Pilate saw the angry faces of the crowd and knew he best do as they demanded. Jesus stood with those who wished Him dead. He gives no defense because He offers Himself freely.
		Daughters of Jerusalem In the window, the Daughters of Jerusalem (Luke 223:27-31), found on the left wall of the Nave, Mary, the mother of our Lord, is shown following her son as He made His journey to death. This journey proceeded from the arrest to the trial and ultimately to burial. This path is often called the Way of the Cross, the Stations of the Cross, or the Via Delarosa (the Way of Sorrows). With Mary are women who weep for Him. Jesus spoke to them of weeping for themselves and not for Him. He tells them that they face a greater trial in the near future.
		The Feast of Pentacost The window representing the Feast of Pentecost (John 20:19-23, Acts 2:1-47) is located on the left wall of the Nave, prior to reaching the sanctuary. In that window pair, one sees Mary, who in obedience to Christ, waited with the Disciples of Jesus in the upper room and received the Holy Spirit. The Apostles were there, but now only eleven; Judas had left them and a new Apostle had yet to be named (Matthias). Flames of fire appear over the heads of each person, symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Saints of the Church

	Saint Luke the Apostle and Physician The window depicting Saint Luke the Apostle and Physician (Col. 4:14, Phil. 24) is located just inside the sanctuary, on the left. Luke was a Gentile Christian who was well educated, a physician, a missionary (as the companion of Saint Paul), and the author of The Gospel According to St. Luke and The Acts of the Apostles. He stayed in Rome until Paul was martyred. Some believe that Luke moved to Greece and died a martyr’s death.
	Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Just outside the altar rail (on the right side of the sanctuary) is a single window of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist. John was the son of Zebedee and brother of James. The two sons were known as the “sons of thunder” because they were so hotheaded and impetuous. It is believed that John was the “beloved disciple” mentioned in the Gospel According to John; thereby John did not have to say “I” in his writing. Tradition has John settling in Ephesus and then being exiled to the island of Patmos under the Emperor Domitian. It was on Patmos that he wrote the book of Revelation. He died on that island after a long life of exile.
	Saint Matthew Inside the choir loft, one will find the single window of Saint Matthew. He was one of the disciples, and is identified with Levi, the tax collector, a group seen as unclean and traitors to the Jewish people. The Gospel that bears his name was written for a strongly Jewish congregation that had accepted that Jesus was Messiah. It is believed that he traveled East and was there martyred.
	Saint Mark the Evangelist Next to the window of Saint Matthew is a single window of Saint Mark the Evangelist. If all the references to Mark are of the same mane we know him to be an Apostle of Jesus, a companion of Paul’s, and the writer of the first Gospel to be written. The Church in Alexandria in Egypt claims him to be their first bishop.
	Mary Receiving her Crown of Glory In the sanctuary, to the left of the altar, a single frame depicts the Mother Mary receiving her crown of glory as she entered into the fullness of God’s Presence in Heaven. The crown has been the symbol of reward for the saints as they enter into God’s fullness.
	Martyrdom of Agnes In the sanctuary, to the right of the altar, is a single window illustrating the Martyrdom of Agnes, a fourth century saint, who lived in Rome during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian and refused to worship other gods. An early tradition says that she was beheaded. In Greek, her name means “pure and in Latin it means “lamb.”