The Creation of the Windows

The eight faceted glass windows, each a unique, custom work of art, were designed by members of Good Shepherd, fabricated at the Willett Studios, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and dedicated with the new sanctuary in 1978. Willett has produced windows for over 10,000 churches and other institutions, including the Washington National Cathedral, the Princeton University Chapel, the Arlington National Cemetery Chapel, and the Church Center at the United Nations in New York. Faceted glass is thick, chunky, and multidimensional, a contemporary form of the flat panels usually referred to as stained glass. The pieces of glass range from 1 to 2 inches thick, with facets cut into the glass to catch the light and increase refraction. In creating Good Shepherd’s windows, individual pieces of glass were arranged on large platforms as mosaics in a bed of sand, then fused together with epoxy resin. Horizontal bands strengthen the panels and support the weight. The imposing chancel window, 26 feet high and 6.5 feet wide, is the focal point of the sanctuary. It is complimented by a series of seven windows on the east wall, each 9 feet high and 16 inches wide, the colors progressing through the spectrum from left to right. The number seven, believed to have special Biblical significance, is frequently expressed in religious art.

Decorative windows portraying Biblical characters and events have been used since the beginning of Christianity to teach the story of Christ to common people who could not read, in a world in which books and pictures were rare. In the medieval cathedrals of Europe, massive stained glass windows transformed the sun’s light, providing visual richness - an amazing, compelling, mystical sight, designed to awe visiting pilgrims and inspire their faith. Stained glass as an art form continues to inspire us in the 21st century. Brilliant by day, glowing through darkness, the windows of Good Shepherd are a constant reminder of God’s light in the world and in our lives.

We are thankful to the generosity of the Good Shepherd members who donated the seven East windows:  Alton and June Bingaman; Grace V. Doulos; Duane, Stella and Buddy Frew; Alfred and Alice Helm; Gerald and Myrtle Lanham; Donald and Barbara Rathbun; Albert and Barbara Zanner; and Albert and Genevieve Zanner.

Copyright 2005. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. All rights reserved.

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