The History of Christ Church Windows Installed in 1974, the south facing façade was designed executed by the Willet Studios of Philadelphia, PA. Willet Studios founder William Willet (1869-1921) was an artist and leader in the American Gothic Revival (also known as the Early School) of stained glass. Willet rebelled against opalescent pictorial windows the American School of stained glass that was established by Louis Comfort Tiffany and was very popular at the turn of the 20th century. Willet believed that opalescent glass ignored the principles of architecture and did not fulfill the purpose of a window. When Willet died in 1921 his wife and partner Anne Lee with their son Henry continued with the Willet Studio developing new techniques in stained glass, especially fabricating faceted glass windows seen in our sanctuary. In 1965, Willet’s grandson E. Crosby Willet became president of the company. Our glass was designed, fabricated, and installed under his watchful eye. He created many windows in the United States, including the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. The Willet design is distinct from the leaded glass found in turn of the century. Its faceted glass has its own unique look. Usually an inch thick, the glass surface is faceted or chipped. While the other types of stained glass are bound together with strips of H-shaped cast lead, faceted glass is held together with an epoxy (a cement-like substance) which allows the spaces between the glass to vary if desired. One of the techniques they developed was based on an idea from the Netherlands. Farbigem is where the stained glass is laminated and set one on top of the other, then cured. This allows for metals to be placed in between the glass for a lustrous glow. In 1971, the Franklin Institute awarded Willet studios the Frank P. Brown Medal for excellence in science, engineering, and structures for this technique. The Art of Christ Church – the Story The Fort Lauderdale sanctuary of Christ Church is a place of peace and worship. As a United Methodist community, we follow the Wesleyan theology that invites you to experience God's grace and to grow your knowledge and love of God through disciplined Christian living. As you grow and connect, we encourage you to look around and see God’s word shining in the colored glass and other artwork around you. This grow class is designed for you to find information about the images, stories, and expressions of faith that surround you. May you find joy in the beauty and share its love with others. The South Facade The south façade is broken into a diamond shaped grid. Each diamond highlights key parts of our Christian Faith. The theme of this façade is “The Way of Salvation”. The diagram to the left shows each of the individual facets with a number. These numbers will be referenced in each class section so you can refer back to your notes. There are three sections of stained glass in this facade: The Old Testament, The New Testament, Historical & Symbolic. Within the sanctuary, there are two Nave Windows, which continue the story. We will also look at these and the chancel symbols in this grow class. The Old Testament 5. Adam and Eve One of the first things I enjoy about this window is having people find the apple. Can you find it? The apple has a bite taken out of it. It shows that Adam and Eve have just taken a bite. Under Adam and Eve’s feet is the snake seen in relief. The only glass is a yellow eye. Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. - Genesis 2:16, 17 This is the original sin of disobedience to God’s command. The window shows that the sin has just happened. For after the bite God sent an angel to guard the tree and force them to leave. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. - Genesis 3:24 1. Isaiah’s Purification Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” - Isaiah 6: 6-7 When Isaiah is brought to God’s throne, he is commissioned to speak to the people of Israel on God’s behalf. Isaiah says he can’t because he is a man of unclean lips. It is then an angel picks out a burning coal and presses it to the prophet’s lips. The coal represents pain's ability to purify and cleanse. In this case, Isaiah's pain doesn't purify anyone else, but it does help him to give out the good (and bad) news. Another question in this window: why is there a Jack O’ Lantern in the window? There is a children’s story that started the rounds in the 1960s. A child asks, “what is it like to be a Christian”? “it’s like being a pumping God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washed all the dirt off you. Then he cuts open the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.” The Old Testament 6. Moses and Mt. Sinai On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A cloud covered the mountain, and a very loud horn sounded. All the people among the tents shook with fear. Then Moses brought the people from among the tents to meet God. They stood at the base of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord came down upon it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a stove. And the whole mountain shook. The sound of the horn became louder and louder. Moses spoke, and God answered him with thunder. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. The Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and he went up. - Exodus 19: 16-20 In this dramatic image, we see Moses atop Mt. Sinai. There he is reaching for the “Tablets of the Law”, commonly known as the ten commandments. At the top of the window you can see the lightning and under Moses’ feet the fire from the storm God made when he met Moses. This work shows great emotion. While Moses is holding up the tablets, there is an incredible emotional look on his face. What does it show? Also, look at his robes. See how the storm is blowing them out from behind him while the storm clouds and lightning shakes the mountain. See how the mountain catches fire under Moses. Is this God’s truth burning him? The dynamics of this work makes us reflect on his commandments and how to work to obey them. The arrangement of the commandments on the two tablets is interpreted in different ways in the classical Jewish tradition. Scholars state that because the commandments establish a covenant, it is likely that they were duplicated on both tablets. This can be compared to diplomatic treaties of Ancient Egypt, in which a copy was made for each party (Exodus 31:18, Exodus 34:1, Exodus 34:27- 28). We, as Christians, follow these ten commandments, referred to as the Decalogue in the early church. Throughout most of Christian history these commandments have been considered the summary of God’s law and a standard of behavior, key to Christian life. According to traditional teachings of Judaism in the Talmud, the tablets were made of blue sapphire stone as a symbolic reminder of the sky, the heavens, and ultimately of God's throne. This is shown through the blue hues on the ends of the tablets. 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me 6. Thou shalt not kill 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God 8. Thou shalt not steal in vain 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy neighbor 5. Honor thy father and thy mother 10. Thou shalt not covet The New Testament 2. The Nativity Under the star’s light, we see the traditional nativity scene. In the middle is Mary holding the infant Jesus. To her right is Joseph. Also represented are the ox, sheep, and at Mary’s feet, the donkey. Notice how the donkey is casually eating hay from the manger? He doesn’t seem impressed like the sheep and ox are with Jesus’s birth. See the star’s light beaming down onto Mary and the baby Jesus. While Mary and Joseph have simple halos, Jesus halo is yellow with a red cross through it. The halo was incorporated into Christian art in the 4th century AD.