The Sanctuary Stained Glass Windows
Clerestory Windows
There are two clerestory windows in a stylized diamond shape high on the North
and South wall. These windows are geometric in design and repeat the circle motif.
They are designed to affect the emotion of a viewer's response.
The Methodist Heritage Windows
A total of four windows, two windows located to the left of the pulpit and two
on the right. These four windows like the other vertical windows in the sanctuary
have the arch tops with the diamond motif and the same colors. The sweeping movement
at the lower portion of two windows together, helps to give continuity to each
set.
The first window on the right is Francis Asbury, the first bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in America. His likeness is hand painted and fired in the medallion
shape and below him is the characteristic Methodist Circuit Rider. Bishop Asbury
is one of the most important early leaders of Methodism in America. He traveled
4000 to 6000 miles a year on horseback. He enlisted laymen to lead local congregations
and young preachers to go out on horseback and conduct religious revivals.
The second window is Susanna Wesley. She was the mother of John and Charles Wesley.
Susanna bore between seventeen and nineteen children; ten survived. She remained
a steadfast Christian who taught not only through the Scriptures, but through
her own example of daily trust in God. Susanna made it a rule for herself to spend
an hour a day with each of the children over the period of a week.
To the right of the pulpit, the first picture is of John Wesley. A fire in 1709
nearly took John's life. From that point forward, he referred to himself as "a
brand plucked from the burning fire." Narrowness, bigotry, and intolerance
had no place in John Wesley's words or work. His followers were called "Methodists."
Let Wesley give us his own definition of a Methodist: "A Methodist is one
who lives according to the method laid down in the Bible."
The final window in this series is the portrait of Charles Wesley. Charles was
a younger son of Samuel and Susanna Wesley and became the famous hymn writer of
Methodism. He wrote more than 6000 hymns many of which are still in our hymnal.
The Chapel Windows
There are six stained glass windows in the Wesley Chapel, located on the level
below the main sanctuary. The design of these windows are scrolls that depict
well-known sayings of John and Charles Wesley. They are united by one of John
Wesley's most memorable affirmations, "To spread scriptural holiness throughout
the land."
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