Stained glass windows decorate the sanctuary of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on South Broadway Avenue in Tyler. Stained glass windows, typically showing scenes from the Bible, served to tell the stories of the faith to the average person beginning in the days when services were conducted in Latin. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph

With Biblical images portraying Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, stained-glass windows communicate the Gospel in a way a sermon never could.

“The stained-glass windows in Europe, they were the Sunday school classes,” Green Acres Baptist Church Pastor David Dykes said.

These windows “spoke” to many an illiterate churchgoer during the Middle Ages and continue to speak today.

Dr. Virginia Chieffo Raguin, distinguished professor of humanities at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts and author of several books about stained glass, said the art form became popular during the Middle Ages, particularly in the 12th and 13th centuries.

“You didn’t have any large church without stained glass,” she said of the European churches.

She said at the time all arts were basically created to embellish a building, especially a house of worship. So it was logical that people would want windows and pictures in the windows with wonderful colors.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that stained glass began to pop up in the U.S.

In the 1830s and 1840s wealthy Protestant congregations became interested in stained glass, Dr. Raguin said.

Traditional stained glass remains widely used in churches and several East Texas churches opened their doors this week so the Tyler Morning Telegraph could get a look at them and share their stories.

 

Christ Church, Episcopal

The stained-glass windows in the sanctuary of Christ Church, Episcopal tell the story of Jesus’ life. It begins with an image of him on the lap of his father Joseph, who was a carpenter. On the floor is a cross and in Joseph’s hand is a hammer and in Jesus’ hand a nail.

The windows continue with Jesus’ baptism, a picture of Him in a welcoming stance with open arms and an image of Him as a shepherd.

The dominant window in the back of the church shows Jesus at the Last Supper surrounded by the 12 disciples.

The story continues on the windows with Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, His trial before Pontius Pilate, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

The St. Louis House of Jacoby, a St. Louis, Missouri-based art glass studio, made the windows, according to a document about church history.

The windows were made of traditional hand-blown antique glass, but were created when the artist painted large glass panels and fired them, a technique which fused the painting to the glass, according to the history.

 

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

At the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, two of the most significant windows are on the east and west walls.

The triptych, or three-part, window behind the altar shows Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane with an angel holding a cup.

It is a visual representation of a story in the Gospels where, before His crucifixion, Jesus prays asking God, “if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

The window in the choir loft at the back of the church shows Mary, the mother of Jesus, and, in that way, connects to the church’s name, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The cathedral and its windows are 81 years old, built in 1934.

 

Marvin United Methodist Church

Marvin’s main sanctuary turns 125 years old this year and stepping into it, visitors are met with light flooding through the floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows that span three of its four walls.

Pastor Doug Baker said many people who come into the sanctuary tell him it has a very special, sacred feeling. When they enter they feel the presence of the Lord.

Baker said he believes the windows and the natural light they allow in help create that.

Two of the windows feature larger, more simplistic designs with symbolic images such as wheat and a sickle, which represent the harvest and the end of life, and the cross and crown, which signify the reward awaiting those who are faithful until death and the triumph over death, according to church information.

The back window features more intricate patterns and the images of four Biblical characters.

The Biblical images show Jesus as the Good Shepherd with sheep, the prophet Elijah being fed by a raven, a bridesmaid from a New Testament parable, and Moses, the Old Testament lawgiver.

Baker said going back in time to the great cathedrals in Europe, the windows told the stories and they continue to today.

“As we hear the stories, as we worship Christ, the stories are all around us,” he said.

 

Green Acres Baptist Church

At Green Acres Baptist Church, there are two windows that serve as a visual testimony to the Gospel: The Window of Worship in the church’s Worship Center and The Window of Evangelism that faces Troup Highway and is lit from within for those outside the church to see.

The Window of Worship features the dominant image of an empty cross in the middle with many symbolic images around it.

These include: lilies, which point to Jesus’ resurrection; arches, which symbolize the inclusiveness of God’s kingdom; and a descending dove, which represents the Holy Spirit and reminds the viewer of Jesus’ baptism when the Spirit of God in the form of a dove descended on Him, according to information provided by the church.

The Window of Evangelism features two windows in one with a cross unifying the piece. The bottom window shows Christ as a shepherd tending to His sheep as little children come to Him.

The image is a reminder of the childlike faith necessary to come to Jesus. His purple robe points to His status as King.

An open Bible features the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, a reminder that Christ is the beginning and the end. A dove in front of a golden cross alludes to the victory of Jesus’ resurrection.

The upper window features the globe, which shows the “all-encompassing nature” of God’s kingdom, according to church information.

The crown shows Christ’s kingship, the sword represents God’s Word and the dove represents God’s spirit going before Christians. The gold background to the cross symbolizes God’s victory over sin’s power.

California-based artist Roger Hogan custom designed the windows for Green Acres.

Both windows became a part of the church in 2001 with the opening of the Worship Center.

 

Sylvania Church

At Sylvania Church in Tyler, the 10 stained-glass windows in the sanctuary tell the story of Jesus’ life.

On one side, the three central windows feature images of Jesus as a baby in the manger with Mary; at the start of His ministry when John the Baptist baptizes Him; and during His ministry when he performs a miracle by feeding more than 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two small fish.

The other side features windows with Jesus’ later life such as His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and the empty tomb after His resurrection. Other windows feature Bible verses.

Though the church was founded in 1946, the windows date back to 1999, when the sanctuary was built.

Senior Pastor Phillip Dancy said apart from giving the sanctuary natural light, the windows have spiritual significance as well.

“These tell stories, give images of the life of Jesus,” he said. “They give a visual sermon if you will.”

 

Twitter: @TMTEmily