Catechesis in Light and Color

At Saint George’s we are blessed by beautiful stained glass windows that adorn our nave.  They tell the story of our Christian faith and the life of Jesus.  Stained glass techniques are thought to have originated in East Asia, with first attempts in Europe happening in tenth century Venice. In medieval Europe, with the arrival of Gothic style of architecture, stained glass windows became a new type of catechesis for the faithful, synthesized with oral teaching.  These elaborate representations of Biblical stories and theology became a standard for teaching, reinforcing, and experiencing the Christian faith and gave stunning glory to God.  It is hard for us to imagine the power stained glass windows played in the medieval church, especially with the millions of images that surround us today.

In the past few weeks, two of our stained glass windows (Christ the King and Saint George) that have been mostly covered for 70 years in the organ chamber have been moved to their new home in the small narthex at the back of the nave.  And this fall after our renovations are complete, which we hope to begin in August, our two largest windows will receive some much need care.   The rose window, with its circular/sunburst shape symbolic of eternity and Christ, will be fully restored and cleaned.  An invisible gutter system will be installed on the interior to prevent from future leaks to protect the wall and the organ. The Transfiguration window, our largest window, is bowing and near collapse due to weakening lead.  It will be removed this Fall and sent to Bovard Studios in Iowa to be restored and returned to us sometime in early 2021.

Our windows are much more than pretty adornments to our Nave.  They are beautiful icons of our faith, a means of catechesis, and literal windows to the divine.  We invite you to make a gift to our Organ/Stained Glass window fund, to help preserve these windows for generations to come.  Your response to our letter at the end of May has been wonderful and we thank you for your generosity.  If you haven’t had a chance to contribute, we invite you to do so.   Information can be found at www.saintgeorgeschurch.org/windows including links give or submit your pledge online.

There is much to discover and appreciate with concern to the theology and history of stained glass windows, and our faith has been and continues to be shaped by these icons of beauty.  Abbot Suger of Saint Dennis (France) summarized best:  “The great church windows are the Divine writings that let the light of the true Sun–that is to say, God–into the church–that is to say, the hearts of the faithful.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

Ben Keseley, Minister of Music