FPC Stained Glass Windows
The stained glass windows used in First Presbyterian’s third church building on Massachusetts Avenue were dedicated on Sunday, May 3, 1965, in the sanctuary.
The church moved from Massachusetts Avenue to its present location on Lake Hollingsworth in 1978. Six beautiful panels of stained glass and the center “Cross-Rose” window from the Massachusetts Avenue building were placed in the new building and are viewed by the congregation during worship services each Sunday.
A seventh shorter window had been above the balcony on Massachusetts Avenue. Two lancet windows had flanked the “Cross-Rose” window. However, these windows could not be used in the new location and were stored in the church attic where they remained for over twenty years.
These beautiful works of stained glass have been placed on three columns in the Welcome Center.
The Large Window
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
This Window Was Given In Loving Memory Of Lonnie E. Brown
Unlike the windows in the sanctuary, there is no worded legend for this original seventh window. Christ, as The Word, has expressed Himself fully in the six preceding “I AM” windows. Now His expression will be through the gentleness plus the power and purifying of the Holy Spirit represented by the Descending Dove and the Bright Tongues of Fire. For in this window - All that Christ is and has revealed Himself to be, by His Life, Death and Resurrection, must be made manifest in the Church, and through the Church to the World.
(1) The Holy Spirit descends upon the faithful gathered together in an upper room to empower and guide the infant Christian Church. Each of the praying disciples has a small flame above his head. In the center stands Peter, delivering his sermon of Pentecost.
(2) Next above, the first miraculous healing by the Apostles, Peter and John cure the crippled man at the Gate Beautiful.
(3) Stephen, the first Christian martyr, being stoned for his witness for Christ.
(4) At the top is Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus as he is called to Faith in Christ and given the Commission to preach the Gospel to Israel, to stand before kings, and to proclaim Salvation to the Gentiles.
The Lancet Windows
PARABLES TOLD BY JESUS
This Window Was Given In Memory Of William R. Ward, Sr.
Originally, these windows were on either side of the “Cross-Rose” window in the sanctuary on Massachusetts Avenue. The names of the Parables were added to each stained glass window in 2001 to make these windows equal in height to the Acts of the Apostles or the Lonnie E. Brown window. These identification panels or windows were made possible through memorials given for Ollie Chatham McKee; Archival Committee; and Bill Cheatwood.
Left Lancet:
(1) Rich Fool
(2) Good Samaritan
(3) Pharisee and Publican
(4) Lost Coin
Right Lancet:
(1) The Soils
(2) Prodigal Son
(3) Rich Man and Beggar
(4) Barren Fig Tree
