"TRINITY WINDOW"
(Dates back to Circa 1832-1849)
Submitted by Dawn Pentecost, Church Organist
Trinity Church has a "Trinity" Window which is behind the organ. The next time you are in church, please take a walk behind the organ and see this wonderful window. The colors are so vivid. The window is one of the oldest in the church, if not the oldest. The window dates back to Circa 1832-1849. The window came from England and was used in the 1st church building as the window behind the altar. Look at the stained glass! It looks like it was layered to give a 3 dimensional effect. The colors are vivid and intense so that the figures seems to jump out at you.
The window was given by the Poor Family. This information came from old minutes of the church because their name is not on the window at all. The Poor Family did not want their name on the window. .The only inscription on the windows reads: "To Our Parents Memory".
The window appears as a triptych or 3 paneled. In each panel we see the depictions of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The middle window is God the Father with his children at his feet. He is protecting and feeding them. The people at his feet are all ages; young and old. This is to show us that whatever age we are we are still God's children. Directly overhead is the symbol of the Trinity, the Triune God-One in Three. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost exist as three parts of the one God, a mysterious concept to explain and understand, but the faithful accept as true. ("Now Faith is the substance things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1)
The figure in the far left window is God the Son. He is depicted as a shepherd . However, he does not hold a shepherd's crook. He holds a cross instead. Also in his hand is the communion chalice which holds his blood that was shed for us through his death on the cross. Immediately over this panel is a window in the shape of the Trinity with a blazing star in the center which is the Star of Bethlehem.
The far right window is of God the Spirit holding an anchor. At first glance it may seem to be a strange symbol to use for the Holy Spirit. However, the anchor is probably one of the oldest Christian symbols. It was found in many of the first through third century catacombs. It was a symbol well-known at the time for a civilization that relied on the sea and fishing. The anchor is a symbol of hope and strength because it was used to keep the boat secure during stormy times. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul; firm and secure" Hebrews 6:19 . The anchor symbol was also used in the first centuries as a symbol of Christianity that the authorities might not recognize. The first century Christians felt compelled to disguise the cross in some artistic and symbolic way so that they might elude persecution. So a cross bar was added to the top of the anchor which made a symbol of the cross. Directly over this triptych is the symbol of the Trinity - Inside of which is pictured a white dove descending.
This window was behind the altar in the first church building when it became necessary to expand and build a lager church. This window was placed where we see it today; behind the organ. Although it is our namesake window (Trinity), it was not placed behind the new altar due to the architectural dictates of the new church design. The wall behind the altar in the new church was semicircular, not flat, and it was necessary to put five smaller width windows in that space to create the semicircle effect.
It is a shame that this window was not given a place of honor in the new church building. It is a truly beautiful window and sadly, much overlooked due to it's position in the church today. So please take a look at this window that is behind the organ and appreciate it for it's beauty and it's symbolism.
The window was given by the Poor Family. This information came from old minutes of the church because their name is not on the window at all. The Poor Family did not want their name on the window. .The only inscription on the windows reads: "To Our Parents Memory".
The window appears as a triptych or 3 paneled. In each panel we see the depictions of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The middle window is God the Father with his children at his feet. He is protecting and feeding them. The people at his feet are all ages; young and old. This is to show us that whatever age we are we are still God's children. Directly overhead is the symbol of the Trinity, the Triune God-One in Three. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost exist as three parts of the one God, a mysterious concept to explain and understand, but the faithful accept as true. ("Now Faith is the substance things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1)
The figure in the far left window is God the Son. He is depicted as a shepherd . However, he does not hold a shepherd's crook. He holds a cross instead. Also in his hand is the communion chalice which holds his blood that was shed for us through his death on the cross. Immediately over this panel is a window in the shape of the Trinity with a blazing star in the center which is the Star of Bethlehem.
The far right window is of God the Spirit holding an anchor. At first glance it may seem to be a strange symbol to use for the Holy Spirit. However, the anchor is probably one of the oldest Christian symbols. It was found in many of the first through third century catacombs. It was a symbol well-known at the time for a civilization that relied on the sea and fishing. The anchor is a symbol of hope and strength because it was used to keep the boat secure during stormy times. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul; firm and secure" Hebrews 6:19 . The anchor symbol was also used in the first centuries as a symbol of Christianity that the authorities might not recognize. The first century Christians felt compelled to disguise the cross in some artistic and symbolic way so that they might elude persecution. So a cross bar was added to the top of the anchor which made a symbol of the cross. Directly over this triptych is the symbol of the Trinity - Inside of which is pictured a white dove descending.
This window was behind the altar in the first church building when it became necessary to expand and build a lager church. This window was placed where we see it today; behind the organ. Although it is our namesake window (Trinity), it was not placed behind the new altar due to the architectural dictates of the new church design. The wall behind the altar in the new church was semicircular, not flat, and it was necessary to put five smaller width windows in that space to create the semicircle effect.
It is a shame that this window was not given a place of honor in the new church building. It is a truly beautiful window and sadly, much overlooked due to it's position in the church today. So please take a look at this window that is behind the organ and appreciate it for it's beauty and it's symbolism.