Second Presbyterian Church

Living History

The Stained Glass Window



The stained glass window is Palladian in form. The term Palladian is taken from the name of the renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, whose writings greatly influence the classical revival under which our church was built. The Palladian motif is defined as an arched opening flanked by two square-headed openings.

Jesus Christ is the central figure in the entire window. He is superimposed on the cross, not hanging on it. This is the resurrected Christ with outstretched arms saying: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 12:28-30). The yoke is displayed below him. The people Christ welcomes are of all ages, genders, and races. Some represent different professions and carry their tools. Some are scholars and laborers. Some are sick, blind, or crippled. At the bottom is a family group. Jesus says: “I am the vine, ye are the branches” (John 15:5). A vine ties all the people and all symbols of the outer panes to Jesus. At the ends of the cross are an Alpha and an Omega, indicating that Jesus is at the beginning and the end of our faith.

The beginning of Jesus’ life is depicted in the panel on the congregation’s left. He is shown, as a baby in the manger, with Mary and Joseph.” The white pennant representing the body of Christ is attached to a cruciform staff, representing the cross on which the Lamb of God died and through which the risen Christ saves the world. The lying down lamb is the suffering and burden-bearing Christ on whom the Lord laid “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). It is the lying down lamb that opens the book Book of Seals (Revelation 5:9) and receives power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing (Revelation 5:12)

The dove at the top of the right panel is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

At the bottom of the side panes are symbols of the two sacraments we observe. On the left the anchor and the scallop shell represent baptism. The symbol of the anchor is drawn from Hebrews 6:19, which refers to “…a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.” The scallop with water pouring from it refers to the baptism of Jesus by John (Matthew 3:13-17). On the right a chalice and a wafer plus grapes and wheat represent Holy Communion.