The Stained-glass windows of Emmanuel Baptist Church Alexandria, Louisiana, part 2

 

The present sanctuary with these magnificent stained-glass windows was completed and dedicated on September 19, 1950. I was seven years old.  Dr. Franklin Seglar was the pastor. (He baptized me two years later in this new building under the baptistry window).

 Today this building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a historical plaque on Jackson Street. I’m sorry I don’t have this picture.

 This blog will be showing the windows on the east side of the sanctuary which are called the Advent windows. The style of these windows is a mixture.  The robes and figurines are in the Munich style and the borders, background, symbols are in a modernized version of the Gothic Revival style.

 We will start with the one closest to the altar.

 

“FEAR NOT FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY”

The angels announce to the shepherds the birth of the savior.  You will see the symbol of the Bible prominent at the top of the center section. This represents Christian faith. Other visible symbols are handbells (upper left), news bearers (Jesus’ birth), Pomegranate (open flower shape above the handbells) The resurrection and hope of eternal life, Dove (upper right) representing the holy spirit, Wheat (above the dove) symbol of bread of life. Holy communion, Triangles representing the trinity, The lamb between the shepherds and the angel, symbol of the lamb of God.  You can see the six-sided star in the center, sometimes called the star of David.  It is the Jewish star and is a symbol of creation. Be sure to look at the color symbols and what they represent.

“AND THEY CAME WITH HASTE AND FOUND MARY AND JOSEPH, AND THE BABE, LYING IN A MANGER”

Symbols of note:  the oil lamp (the word of God, the manifest presence of God as the light of the world). Notice the bright yellow of the flame on the oil lamp, this is a prime example of the use of silver stain.  Clover (above the oil lamp) symbol of trinity, Anchor (Christians hope in Christ), Lotus flower (above the anchor) purity. The Bible is above everything in this window too.

Look at the Jewish (six-sided) star in this window.  It was moved to the left.   Do you see other symbols?

“WE HAVE SEEN HIS STAR, AND ARE COME TO WORSHIP HIM”

Wise men bearing gifts. Did you notice the Jewish star (star of David) is in the east?  Visible symbols in this window are the sunflower (worship and faithfulness), musical instruments (music in worship. Baptists always say that we are a singing faith), Sheave of wheat (believers, body of Christ, bread of life), harp (worship).  Again, the Bible is in the center.

“AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTAND AND ANSWERS”

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

Visible symbols:  3 white flowers (innocence of the holy child), 10 commandments (the law of God for spiritual and moral living), the open book is a symbol of Jesus’ knowledge.

“JESUS CAME AND WAS BAPTIZED OF JOHN IN JORDAN”

This is my favorite window. Maybe because no matter what time of the year, this window always captures the sunlight at seven in the morning. (How do I know that? Because I opened the sanctuary every Sunday at seven in the morning for over 20 years.  I would sit in the room without the lights and pray for the day while looking at the remarkable windows, especially the way the sun hit this window). There are other times of the year when the sun was not directly hitting this window, it would hit the beautiful Rose window at the front of the church.  More about that later.

Visible symbols are the descending dove on the left (Holy Spirit), white flowers (Innocence and purity), grapes (communion, blood of Christ), lying lamb with a banner (lamb of God), the Bible (hope of Christian faith), black bird (considered a good omen), cat tails (considered a lowly plant. It’s a symbol of the multitude of the faithful who live a simple life and obey the teaching of the church. Also, the source of living water).

Next week I will talk about the windows on the west side which are called the Easter windows.  I will only mention the windows on the upper level since I have no decent pictures. After that I will talk about the WMU window, the Rose window, and the baptistry window. Thank you for your kind remarks. 

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