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A Stained Glass Tour, Part I

What follows is a tour of the stained glass windows that adorn the sanctuary of Good Shepherd.

Our patrons — The two lancet windows in the narthex depict the patrons of the two Lake Charles Episcopal congregations in the 1950's: Christ the Good Shepherd (near right) and St. Michael the Archangel (far right). The Church of St. Michael and All Angels was founded during the same period that these windows were being created; the window depicts Michael subduing the dragon at the end of the age as told in Revelation 12:7-9.

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ — On the west wall of the church is the Nativity Window. The window features a strong diagonal composition: the pale gold rays of the star reveal the Christ Child seated on Mary's knee, and the light rose color of her garment completes the falling line. In the evening, when all the other windows are darkened, the very last light of day will still catch the Star of Bethlehem. Behind the Child are the beasts of the stall, the ox, ass, and lamb. In two insets, the wise men and shepherds are shown journeying to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12). 

Other features of this window are the small red flowers around the lower outer edge and the many stars of the night sky. Below the ox's head are several small red birds, probably whimsical, but possibly alluding to the Holy Innocents, the children murdered by Herod ("red" for blood, their spirits flying away; Matthew 2:16-18). A border of wreathed holly and ivy, celebrated in many Christmas carols, frames the window. This is the only window in the church not by the Wippel Company, but by the J. & R. Lamb Company of Tenefly, New Jersey. 

[The Nativity window is given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for her child and her grandchildren by Helen Weber Harris, A.D. 1959]

Jesus Healing the Sick — The window to the lower right of the Nativity window is the Perkins window, a memorial to a physician. At the top is the caduceus, a symbol of the medical profession, beneath which Christ is seen healing the sick. In the lower right is the fountain of life (Revelation 21:6); in the lower left is the winged Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of the presence of God with the Children of Israel and of their being "carried on eagles' wings" (Exodus 19:4) during the exodus from Egypt. At the left center of the window are a mortar and pestle, tools from the age when doctors used to make up their own prescriptions. 

[Anno domini 1958 in loving memory of Philip Samuel Perkins, M.D. 27th December 1894 - 29th November 1937]

The Sermon on the Mount — To the left is the Braden window, a memorial to a former city judge in Lake Charles. Depicted at the top is the Prince of Peace, and the scene below shows the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:27), symbolizing the moral and ethical teachings of Christ. To the lower right are the Scales of Justice, symbolizing justice and equality, and to the left, a spinning wheel with the thread of life (cf. Matthew 6:28). The flail and column at the left center can be identified with penitence, with the punitive scourging of Roman justice, or with the instruments of Christ's passion (cf. Matthew 5:10). 

[Anno domini 1959. Given to the Glory of God & in memory of William Collins Braden December 31st 1886 - August 13th 1954 by Laura Walsh Braden, William & Mary]

The Last Supper — On the south wall, from west to east, the first window is the Wharton window. Foreground and background images are of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. In the foreground, Jesus washes the feet of Peter (John 13:1-16), a supreme example of service and humility. In the background, Jesus and his friends are at the table (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-20; and 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-26). The Last Supper is uniquely appropriate in a window which memorializes a former priest of the parish. The top medallion shows the Host and Chalice from the Holy Eucharist. The lower left medallion shows an iris ("sword lily") which refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary's sorrow at Christ's passion (cf. Luke 2:35). The right medallion shows the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:1-6). God asked Moses to remove his sandals before stepping forward onto holy ground, a further reference to humility. 

[Anno domini 1960. To the Glory of God and in memory of George Franklin Wharton, priest 11th July 1894 - 22nd February 1954 Rector of this Parish 1929 - 1950]

The Good Shepherd — The next window, the Lamkin-Cisco window, illustrates Psalm 23, the favorite psalm of the woman memorialized. Dominating the scene is Christ, the Good Shepherd, leading his sheep beside still waters and in green pastures. The lamp at the top of the window is in reference to Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path." The lower medallions show a breastplate (left) and sandals (right), in reference to Ephesians 6:14b-15: "Put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace." (cf. John 10:11-18). 

[In loving memory of Mary Mead Lamkin. Robert Guinn Lamkin & Lucille Hill Cisco; Rupert F. Cisco & Cylene Cisco Lamkin. Given to the Glory of God by Jack Lamkin.]

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