Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France
“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” – 1 John 1:5
Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France
My mom instilled in me a love for colored glass. She filled beautiful old wine decanters with color-tinted water and set them in our windows at home. On sunny days, the rooms dazzled with rainbow light. Such delight for us children! Then she discovered depression glass and again placed these translucent colored pieces on our dining table, making special occasions even more special.
My kitchen reflects my Mom’s influence with colored glass.
It wasn’t until I became an adult that stained glass windows became a real experience. Their wonder and beauty that changed with the light mesmerized.
Over the course of the last several years, my family has had opportunity to see some of the beautiful churches in the world…and right here in our own city. Below are just a few samples:
Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
St Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Richmond, Virginia
We don’t always have a grand choice of a worship space, depending on where we live, given both our means and religious freedom. For some, a storefront is where we gather. For others, under a tree or in an apartment, shutters closed. Part of that reality makes the appeal of stained glass all the greater.
Stained glass windows evoke “the presence of the holy in our worship spaces” (in the words of artist Elizabeth Devereaux).
We know from Scripture that God is with us wherever we are. We count on that. Still, in a culture that cries against His very existence, being surrounded by sweet reflections of His light and beauty can lift our eyes up…to Heaven, to Him.
Stained glass relies on a light source for its characteristic vivid illumination. [It] is specifically designed to be highly translucent. This quality allows a great deal of light to pass through it which highlights its colors beautifully. That is why stained glass is particularly bright when viewed from inside a building on a sunny day or from outside the building on a night when there is ample light within. Stained glass works with the light to create its powerful effect…the color and brightness of the glass clearly has immense aesthetic appeal. That beauty often triggers powerful emotions within us – joy, inspiration, elation, humility, gratitude, and virtually anything else along the human emotional spectrum. – Steven L. Yarbrough
What Makes a Stained Glass Window Shine? – Steven L. Yarbrough
Our gathering space may be such that it has to work for multiple purposes – worship, concerts, conferences, suppers together. Nothing wrong with that. When we worship, visual art forms can set a tone for us to corporately and intimately connect with God
Stained glass windows are such an art form.
Stained Glass and the Book of Revelation – Msgr. Charles Pope
Our church building in Richmond (Movement Church) actually has stained glass windows. They weren’t on our wish list; they were part of a great gift to us by Patterson Avenue Baptist Church.
They are beautiful and we are grateful.
As Yarbrough says above, stained glass windows transmit light – either from outside during the day, or from inside during night hours. They speak to us of the great impact of God’s light in our daily lives and our darknesses.
Movement Church, Richmond, Virginia
As beautiful as stained glass windows are from the inside, they call us to worship at night. A church near our home has stained glass windows, and I love when they have services at night. Driving by, glancing over, I am transported by the colored light streaming through into the dark night reminding me. Not of differences in religions, or worship preferences, or negative religious experiences. No…none of that. I am reminded of the light and beauty of God. Joyfully.
We may be coming back around, the church today, to a preference of a more classic and sacred worship space…a place where stained glass windows draw our eyes and hearts up toward Heaven and all the hope and joy it reflects.
Worship the Lord of light and beauty with me today. Hallelujah!
[My only piece of stained glass at home – again a reminder of the Lord’s great gift of a Godly mom who taught us the Word and brought so much beauty into our lives – including an iris garden.]
Heavenly Illumination: The Science and Magic of Stained Glass – Andy Connelly
God in the Mending – Carrie McKean
What Kind of Church Appeals to Millennials? It’s Not as Trendy and Modern as You Think – Cath Martin
Photo Credit: Barna Group
What a lovely post Deb, thank you. I very much miss the stained glass windows in the church I grew up in back home. I do miss churches looking special. I am totally not surprised by the study that proves all young people do NOT want things completely non-traditional. I miss the feel and exercise of church when I was a girl.
I hear you, Kari. It’s not a huge thing, but…If the church is Christ-centered and the heart of the congregation is to love God and serve people, then styles and settings of worship have to be secondary. Still, I, too, love the “feel of the sacred”. I even miss hymnals…thanks for commenting. I’m sure it’s delightful for you to go back to your home church…or maybe we can’t go back, as they say, because we have all changed. Our memories, especially the delightful ones, remain. Thanks for commenting, Friend not yet met but very much treasured.