Emmanuel's Stained Glass Windows Part 4

In the late 1940's it was decided that there would be stained glass windows in the new sanctuary.

I'm sure that somewhere in the archives of the history of Emmanuel there is a record of the naming of a committee – after all Baptists are known for forming committees for about any occasion. I'm sure that the chairman was probably a Bolton, (but again I speculate). I picture them gathered all together on the first floor of our three story educational building, which we call Weems Hall, formerly the Fellowship hall, as they thought deeply about the new sanctuary that was to be built and how they wanted it to be glorious for the community as well as a tribute to God. I'm sure there was discussion as to whether they should have a fund raising campaign or if individual members would cover the cost of such windows. Well, the windows were eventually purchased by the church with plans for individual members to purchase all or part of them as memorials, as best as I can understand. A plaque was to be placed under each window to indicate who purchased and to whom the memorial was for. As the discussion became more verbal, I'm sure they formed another committee to decide the design of the plaques. Since Jacoby Glass Company would not allow us to place a plaque under each window until all the windows were completed and installed and since it was unclear as to what windows would be purchased and when, the committee decided that the plaques would be at the back of the sanctuary.

Our beautiful Gothic Sanctuary was to have twenty windows total. 

 An example of one of the upper windows.

 Jesus triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.

                                                           

After discussions with Jacoby and the committee the designs were agreed upon and work began in St. Louis, Mo.  The lower section would consist of Jesus' life from the announcement of his birth until he ascended to heaven, while the upper windows would depict the parables.

However, there was a fly in the soup. 

Somewhere the ladies of the Women's Missionary Union noted that the building would be missing a window on the West side, opposite the bell tower. There were ten windows plus the bell tower on the East side but the ten windows on the West side had a blank spot toward the front of the sanctuary on the Jackson Street side, upper level. There needed to be an extra window to balance the space with the bell tower. I can imagine the discussion that went over that little flaw. And, I can imagine that there was much discussion. into the night. during a business meeting. Well, as anyone knows, you do not cross the WMU ladies when they have a bee in their bonnet. 

They immediately began raising money to purchase one more window. Which they did and helped plan. This window, although similar in design to the other on the upper level still had it's own individual features. 

 

  I'm highlighting this window because it is of special interest to our congregation because it is personal to our church.

 So, although this is out of order, I want to talk about the wonderful WMU window that nobody really gets to see. It is located above the stairs, leading to the balcony, on the West side. 

Symbols of note: 

Top left: Young Women's Auxillary

Center top left:  Sunbeams

Center top right:  Girl's Auxillary 

Top right:  Royal Ambassadors

Lower left:  Women's Missionary Union S.B.C. 1888

 I'm sorry that I can't show a clearer picture of these symbols.

The Great Commission. Matthew 28:16-20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The plaque says: “In tribute to the faithful service of the women and young people of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Women's Missionary Union”.
The basic design is the same as in the other upper windows. But instead of the red trio of stylized flowers above the two panels and the trefoil at the top, we have the symbols of the Young Women's Auxiliary, The Sunbeams, The Girl's Axillary, and the Royal Ambassadors.

 

 I can imagine, also, that the deacons in the late 1940's were not too pleased that the WMU was standing up for what they believed, and I'm sure they would have opposed such a move except for the fact that their women, probably, threatened going on strike at home by withholding meals or whatever. Today, we should be proud of the WMU for standing their ground, because this is a great window and the sanctuary windows look balanced when viewed from the exterior.

These ladies were leading the way for Missions in our church and even through the years, Emmanuel has always reached out to Missions.

The windows on the upper level on the East side are:

Jesus calling his disciples, "Come, I will make you fishers of men."  Matthew 4:19

(cropped right side of the window)

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. "I will give you living water." John 4 

(cropped left side of the window)

Parable of the sower of seeds.  Luke 8:4-15

(complete window)

Jesus healing the blind man.  John 9

(cropped left side of window)

Jesus calming the sea.  Mark 4: 35-41 

(complete window)

The windows on the Upper level on the West side are:

The great commission.  Carrying the message of salvation to all nations.  Matthew 28:!6-20

(complete window)

Parable of the good Samaritan.  "Love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:25-37

(complete window)

Jesus at Bethany with Mary and Martha.  Luke 10:38-42

(sorry, but I did not have a picture)

"Let the little children come unto me for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

(cropped left side of window)

Widow's Mite.  Luke 21:1-4

(sorry, but I did not have a picture)

Jesus' triumphal entry on Palm Sunday.  Matthew 21:1-17

(cropped left side of window)

Thank you for allowing me to post about the Stained glass windows at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana. I hope it was informative and that you got to see and enjoy the beauty I see every Sunday morning.  

© Nippy Blair 2015. Posts and pictures on this blog cannot be copied, downloaded, printed, or used without the permission of the blog owner, Nippy Blair.

PART 3

Stained Glass windows

Emmanuel Baptist Church

1881-2017

Anytime we enter our Sanctuary, with its magnificent stained glass windows, a sermon is already in progress. The very name of our church proclaims our message: Emmanuel, God with us.

A brief history:  Emmanuel Baptist church has been in Alexandria, Louisiana for 136 years.  On September 6, 1881, 12 Charter members formed the first Southern Baptist Church in this area.  Our original name was the Alexandria-Pineville Baptist Church and we were located on Second Street in Pineville.  In 1893, after a series of revival meetings in the court house in Alexandria, they convened in business meeting and changed the name from Alexandria-Pineville Baptist Church to Emmanuel Baptist. They also purchased the property on 4^th and Jackson in Alexandria, thanks to G.W. Bolton, a  founding member.

In 1896-97, the church with its 140 members moved to a new building in Alexandria on the corner of Jackson and Fourth.

In 1916,the Sanctuary burned.  The congregation met in Rapides Opera House for services (this would be the  late Paramount Theater to those that remember it)

In 1918, the Educational/Sanctuary was completed and dedicated.  This is the current three story educational building that we are in the process of renovating.

  The Sanctuary was on the 2^nd floor with a 3 sided balcony. I remember looking up above the balcony and seeing the beautiful yellow glass transom windows above the third floor.  The baptistery was on the first and the members would walk down stairs when people were being baptised.

The present Sanctuary building, with these magnificant stained glass windows, was completed and dedicated on September 10, 1950. I was seven years old.    Dr. Franklin Seglar was the pastor. Dr. G. Kernie Keagan and Dr. Carl A. DeVane, former pastors participated in the service.

If you read my first two blogs on these windows then you learned of the history of stained glass in my first blog.  In the second one we also discovered that  in Gothic cathedrals, stained glass was correctly called the “Bible of the Poor”. Many of the poor were unable to read so the colors, pictures, symbols and lines had meaning and taught them the scripture.  I also gave a list of symbols to look for.  Hopefully, you may remember some of these colors and symbols that are found in our windows.  

Today, I want to look at the other lower level windows, on the West.

These are considered the Easter windows

Let's look at the first window away from the altar

"I am the Good shepherd and I know my sheep.”

  Visible symbols of note:

 snow bells (top left): new beginnings and hope 

sheaves of wheat (upper left): communion 

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.

 gourd (top right): symbolizes the resurrection

 grape cluster (upper right): the blood of Christ as in the Eucharist.

 The second window from the altar

 "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

 

Jesus praying at Gethsemane that this 'cup' be removed, “Not my will but thine be done.” (note cup in God's hands.  This is another great example where the use of silver stain was used).  Here,it is a symbol of death.

Visible symbols of note:  

  cluster of three flowers  (top left): Trinity 

 cup and plate (upper left) : lord's supper

lily (top right): purity

 cross (upper right): God's suffering

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.

 flowers (beneath Jesus): peace, purity

 The third window from the altar

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit"

Crucifixion of Jesus
Visible symbols of note:

 white flower,I think it is an iris. (top left) : Mary's sorrow at Christ's passion.

 triptych with 6 pointed star in center (upper left): the Star of David.  6 pointed star, the star of Creation. The 6 points stand for the six days of creation. It also represents the 6 attributes of God: power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy and justice. Some refer to it as the Jewish star.

 oak leaf (top right): Jesus' cross was said to be made from oak. Victory over death. 

broken chain (upper right): Symbolizes Christ's hand reaching from heaven breaking the chains of death.

There is no Bible in the center of this window, instead there is a banner  with INRI Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. 

 The fourth window

"He is not here: for he has risen."

Burial tomb with stone rolled away, “He is not here, He is risen.”  
Visible symbols of note: 

5 point white flower (top left): symbol associated with Christianity. Also purity.

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.

pomegranate with seeds showing (upper left): The fullness of Christ's suffering. The resurrection of hope and eternal life. The many seeds represent the many believers in Christ (the church). It also symbolizes resurrection and power over death. 

single white flower (top right): purity and innocence

 crown with palm branches (upper right): The martyrs victory in passing through torments to the blessed life in heaven.

 The final window closest to the altar

"He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." 

Jesus ascension into heaven after blessing His disciples near Bethany.  
Visible symbols of note: 

white rose (top left): innocence and spiritual love 

alpha (upper left): beginning 

single palm branch (top right): victory

omega (upper right): end

I am the beginning and the end.

This window is also one without a Bible at the center of the scene.  On the Advent windows we have this symbol on all five windows.  On the Easter windows there are only three.

I hope you are getting some insight into these historically significant windows from the Jacoby glass company.  I do not have decent pictures of our upper windows, yet,  but hope to do so.  We still have these to discuss and the Rose and baptistry window.  In particular, I would like to share the WMU window on the upper level, west, that no one ever sees, since it was an add on for symmetry. I will be able to have a clear picture of that window.

Till next time.

© Nippy Blair 2015. Posts and pictures on this blog cannot be copied, downloaded, printed, or used without the permission of the blog owner, Nippy Blair.

 

Emmanuel's Stained Glass Windows Part II

During the Gothic period (1100-1500) stained glass was the foremost form of painting in Europe. If you look closely at our stained glass windows you will notice that the surfaces of each piece of glass are painted in a wide range of dark tones.The term “stained glass” came about because of the use of silver stain being applied to the side that faced the outside of a building. Remember, silver stain was a combination of chemicals that were blended together and applied to clear glass. It enabled a more flexible approach to glass painting, allowing, for example, the hair of a figure to be painted on the same piece of glass as the head. It was also used to highlight details.

In Gothic cathedrals, stained glass was correctly called the “Bible of the Poor”. Many of the poor were unable to read so the colors, pictures, symbols and lines had meaning and taught them the scripture.

Some of the color symbols, and their meanings, you will find in our windows are:

Red: Chaity, Blood of Christ, A reminder of the suffering and sacrifice of the Son of Man. Our windows seem to have Jesus always dressed in red or red on him somewhere.

Blue: Hope, sincerity, love and piety. This is the color assigned to the Virgin Mary.

Green: Faith, immortality, spring. Triump of life over death

Violet: Love, truth, passion and suffering.

White/Gold: Chastity, innocence of soul and purity. The color of God.

Black: Death and regeneration.

Yellow: Power and glory, the Gates of heaven

Purple: Royalty, God the Father.

Gray: The emblem for Christ risen. Also, mourning, humility

There are also other symbols used in religious stained glass windows. You will find many if these symbols as well, on our windows, such as:

Triangle: Trinity.

Bells: news bearers, to announce Jesus conquering death, birth, etc.

Lilies: Chasity, innocence and purity. Symbol of Christ.

Lamp: the manifest presence of God as the light of the world

Harp: represents all music that is sung or played to the glory of God.

Lyre: represents all music that is sung or played to the glory of God.

Holy Bible: Christian Faith

Star of David: 6 pointed star: the star of Creation. The 6 points stand for the six days of creation. It also represents the 6 attributes of God: power, wisdom, majesty, love, mercy and justice. It is also called a Six sided star also the Jewish star.

Bright lantern: Christ's passion, word of God

Cup in God's hand: death

Broken chains: represents Christ's hand reaching from heaven and breaking the chains of death.

Five pointed star: symbol associated with Christianity.

Pomegranate: The fullness of Christ's suffering. The resurrection of hope and eternal life. The many seeds represent the many believers in Christ (the church). It also symbolizes ressurection.

Wheat: Can represent Believers, the Body of Christ, the bread in the communion.

Dove: Holy Spirit with an olive branch...the end of God's judgement and the beginning of a new covenant with man.

Clover: trinity

Oil Lamp: Holy Spirit

Lotus flower: purity

Anchor:the hope of having Christ beyond this life.

Chalice with grapes: the Eucharist. Jesus as the true vine.

Daisy: innocence of the Holy Child.

The vine, grapes, sheaves of wheat: elements of communion

Fruit: A symbol of the 12 fruits of the spirit.

On the lower level of our sanctuary the windows tell the story of Jesus' life, death and resurection.

The windows on the East side are considered the Advent windows. They deal with the announcement of Jesus' birth through his baptism by John the Baptist.  Look for continuity in all these windows.

Let's look at the first window from the altar: 

"Fear not for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy"

This is the angel's announcement to the shepherds of the birth of the savior, "Who is Christ the Lord?"

note:  The Holy Bible is at the center of this window (above the six-sided star) and is in all but two of the other windows.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.) 

Visible symbols of note:  
handbells (upper left): news bearers, to announce Jesus conquering death, birth.

 Dove (upper right):  Holy Spirit.

Triangle (upper right):  Trinity
 Pomegranate (open flower shape on the top left): The fullness of Christ's suffering. The resurrection of hope and eternal life. The many seeds represent the many believers in Christ (the church). It also symbolizes resurrection.

Wheat  (top right) :  bread of life.  Holy communion.
The lamb between the shepherds and the angel:  the lamb of God.

Notice that the six-sided star is in the center of this window.  It is a Jewish symbol representing the six days of creation.

Continue looking for symbols from the list above like bells, lilies, harps, stars, triangles, as well as color symbols.

The second window from the altar

"And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe, lying in a manger."

Notice the bright light of the lantern.  This is a prime example where silver stain was used.   The manifest presence of God as the light of the world.

Visible symbols of note:

 Clover (top left): trinity

Oil lamp (upper left)  :  represents the word of God.

Lotus flower (top right):  purity

Anchor (upper right): Christian's hope in Christ.

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window (above the six-sided star) and is in all but two of the other windows.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.)

Here the six sided Jewish star is on the left
Continue looking for symbols from the list above like bells, lilies, harps, stars, triangles, as well as color symbols.

The third window from the altar

"We have seen his star, and are come to worship him."

Wise men bearing gifts see the Star in the East and come to worship Jesus.  

Visible symbols of note:
sunflower (top left): worship and faithfulness.  

 Musical instruments:  Music in worship (we are a singing faith).
 Sheave of wheat:   believers, body of Christ. Bread of life.

 harp: worship 

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window (above the six-sided star) and is in all but two of the other windows.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.)

Here the six sided Jewish star is on the right. 

  Continue looking for symbols from the list above like bells, lilies, harps, stars, triangles, as well as color symbols.

The fourth window from the altar.

"And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Jesus at the age of 12 standing in the Temple amazing the priests with his knowledge. 

Visible symbols of note:

3 white flowers (top left): innocence of the holy child 

10 commandments (upper left): the law of God for spiritual and moral living 

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window (above the six-sided star) and is in all but two of the other windows.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.)

Holy Bible (upper right): the word of God

 Flowers (top  right): innocence of the holy child 
  Continue looking for symbols from the list above like bells, lilies, harps, stars, triangles, as well as color symbols.

The fifth window from the altar (near the bell tower) 

"Jesus came and was baptized of John in Jordan."

This is probably my favorite window. Maybe because no matter what time of the year, this window always captures the sunlight at seven in the morning.  The colors are absolutely remarkable.

Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist with the voice of God, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”

Visible symbols of note: 
descending dove (upper left): Holy Spirit
white flowers (top left):  innocence and peace, purity
grapes (top right):  communion
lying lamb with flag (upper right):  lamb of God

The Holy Bible is at the center of this window (above the six-sided star) and is in all but two of the other windows.  It is a symbol of Christian faith.) 
black bird:  considered a good omen.
cat tails:  A  lowly common plant.  Symbol of the multitude of the faithful who live a simple life and obey the teaching of the church.  The source of living water.
 Continue looking for symbols from the list above like bells, lilies, harps, stars, triangles, as well as color symbols.

 

© Nippy Blair 2015. Posts and pictures on this blog cannot be copied, downloaded, printed, or used without the permission of the blog owner, Nippy Blair.

 

Stained Glass Windows

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Today, I want to talk about the stained glass windows in my church, Emmanuel Baptist, in Alexandria, Louisiana.  These windows were placed in our current sanctuary in 1949-1950.  I was seven years old and have always been fascinated with these windows.  I do believe my artistic senses were greatly influenced by seeing them week after week.  Even today, when I open the building on Sunday morings, I pause to reflect and admire their beauty. It is a religious experience, at it's best, to sit in an empty sanctuary at seven in the morning on a sunny day, lights off, and witness the sun streaming through the glass sending awe-inspiring light into the room.  

Today I will focus on the technical aspects of the windows.  Another blog will share individual windows, color and religious symbols.

The windows in this sanctuary are traditional leaded stained glass windows. And were crafted by the Jacoby Stained Glass Studio in St. Louis, Missouri.

These windows were installed when this sanctuary was built. Our windows are placed in chronological order from birth to resurrection. (note: during the Heart of Spain tours of our windows, we met some people from Belgium who had visited many countries and church windows and said these were the first they ever saw that were in chronological order)

The windows were purchased by individual members.  Originally, a plaque was to be placed under each window to indicate who purchased and to whom the windows were in memory of.  Jacoby Glass Company would not allow us to place a plaque under each window until all the windows were completed and installed.  Our compromise was to place the plaques at the back of the sanctuary.

Our windows were designed and cartooned by James Blackford, a master craftsman who came from England to work with Jacoby . They were painted by Tom Dixon who also came with Blackford from England.

The Jacoby web page indicates that there are some noted Blackford Stained Glass windows in America.  Ours is one.

They are: 

St. John's Episcopal in Ft. Worth, Texas,

Emmanuel Baptist, Alexandria and

St. James Episcopal in Wichita, Kansas.

JACOBY STAINED GLASS, ST. LOUIS, MO. is signed on the lower right side of the Baptistery window.

All of these windows were fabricated using handmade, mouth blown antique glass (antique class was required to be 100 years old) and painted in the traditional Trace and Matte technique of glass painting:  Using the drawing as a template, the glass is selected and cut, and each piece of glass is individually painted using glass paint. The paint is then fired, heating the glass to approximately 650 degrees centigrade in a furnace. When all of the glass has been painted it is assembled into panels by bending 'H' section strips of lead around the pieces of glass and soldering the strips together where they meet.

The style of these windows is a mixture. The figurines and robes are in the Munich style and the borders, background, symbols and the quotes are a modernized version of the Gothic Revival style.

Note: Most Munich school windows have a very distinct characteristic. The figures are highly realistic, painted in a German Baroque style.

Gothic Revival Style was one of the most influential styles in the 19^th century. Designs were based on forms and patterns of the Middle Ages.

Some of the antique glass is “flashed” which means that the base glass color (usually clear) is fused to another thin layer of color. This enables the glass artist to sandblast or acid-etch one of the layers to create special color shading and effects in a single piece of glass.

 There is some use of silver stain.

Silver stain is a combination of chemicals blended with pipe clay and applied to clear glass. (usually silver nitrate or silver sulphide) Pipe clay is a fine white clay .

Producing a strong clear yellow was difficult in early stained glass because it relied upon the careful control of heated furnace. The introduction of silver stain in the early 14^th century provided a solution to this difficulty, and also allowed greater flexibility in the way in which colour could be used. It enabled a more flexible approach to glass painting, allowing, for example, the hair of a figure to be painted on the same piece of glass as the head. It was also used to highlight details.

The majority of the glass that is used in the windows from the Jacoby Art Glass Co. is antique glass made in the traditional pot metal method.

(When the glasses are in a molten state in a metal pot, chemicals are introduced to create the different colors. Then a gather (a soft blob of glass) is attached to the end of a blowpipe. A glassblower blows the glass into the shape of a large cylinder about 30 inches long. The cylinder is detached from the pipe, the top and bottom removed, and scored along the side. The glass is then put into an oven where, as it is heated it uncurls, and becomes a flat sheet about 30 inches by 30 inches.

Because of the way it is made, by hand and by utilizing mouth-blowing techniques, there are faults (streaks, bubbles and striations) in the glasses. Also the glass is not of uniform thickness throughout the entire sheet. The streaks, bubbles and striations break up the light as it passes through the glass creating vibrant highlights that make the glass seem to sparkle. The varying thickness makes certain areas of the glass seem deeper and richer in their coloring.

Because each sheet of glass is somewhat unique, the antique glass allows the glass artist a very large pallet with which to work. He can use the glass as it is, or he can paint the glass with glass paint. With acid or sandblasting, he can etch the glass to create more than one color in an individual glass. He can stain the glass or he can plate the glass (superimposing one or more glasses over a base glass to create a special color or visual effect).

© Nippy Blair 2015. Posts and pictures on this blog cannot be copied, downloaded, printed, or used without the permission of the blog owner, Nippy Blair.