About the Stained Glass windows in Christ Church Ithan

The nave aisle windows of Christ Church, Ithan, were designed and executed by the Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia. The windows illustrate key events in the life of Jesus.

The chronology begins at the rear on the Gospel side moving toward the Chancel, crossing to the epistle side and moving toward the rear.

The Annunciation

The angel Gabriel stands behind Mary holding a lily. Above is Mary's monogram and below is a fleur-de-lys, symbol of her purity.

The Nativity

The Holy Family are gathered in the stable under the rays of the Star. Three wise men are in the ventilator section at the bottom. The symbol at the top is the Christmas Rose.

The Baptism

The Holy spirit appears in the form of a dove as John baptizes Jesus. The escallop shell is the symbol at the top. In the Ventilator is a font with flowing water.

The Transfiguration

Jesus appears on the Mount of Transfiguration flanked by Moses, holding the Tablets of the Law, and Elijah with a scroll. The Spirit dove is at the apex of the window. The three small figures at the bottom are Peter, James and John who witnessed the scene from below.

The Last Supper

This window tells the story of the Last Supper by a single figure of Jesus holding the chalice. The symbol at the top is a chalice and host. At the bottom are the five loaves and two fish, the boy's lunch which Jesus multiplied to feed five thousand people.

The Crucifixion

Jesus hangs on the cross in this window. Above is the symbol, the Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world. At the bottom is a pillar and scourges.

The Resurrection

The fact of the Resurrection of Christ is told by the angel tot he women at the tomb. Above is the butterfly, symbolizing universal life after death. the caterpillar represents life on earth. The seeming death in the cocoon is the grave. Afterwards the butterfly emerges to fly on bright wings to heaven. The phoenix at the bottom is a mythological bird the ancients thought instead of dying set fire to her nest and rose rejuvenated from the flames - a universal resurrection symbol.

The Ascension

Here Christ the King leaves the earth and ascends to heaven to reign surrounded by stars and angels. The musical instruments and the censer at the bottom symbolize prayer and praise.

The Great Commission

This window is the most full of symbolism. Christ stands at its center. He is superimposed on a grape vine: "I am the vine, ye are the branches." At the base is the chi rho (XP) sacred monogram for Jesus Christ. On the branches in circular medallions are the symbols of the Apostles. Peter has crossed keys, the keys to heaven entrusted to him by Jesus. James the greater has three escallop shells, symbols of pilgrimage. John has a chalice from which emerges a serpent. This refers to an attempt upon his life by enemies who poisoned the communion wine and from which he miraculously escaped. Andrew was martyred on an X-shaped cross. Philip has a tall cross and loaves of bread because of his presence at the feeding of the five thousand. Bartholomew was flayed alive so his symbol combines a knife with an open Bible. Thomas built a church in India with his own hands and was afterward martyred so there his symbol is a spear and a carpenter's square. To James the Less is given a saw, instrument of his martyrdom. three purses recall Matthew's original calling of tax collector. The ship is assigned to Jude because of his missionary journeys. Simon was a fisher of men by power of the Gospel. So his symbol combines a fish and a book. In place of Judas, Matthias was used. He was beheaded after missionary work in Judea. His symbol combines an axe and a book. The inscription is the Great Commission Jesus gave to his Apostles, to go into the world and preach the Gospel and baptize. this command, sending out so few, grew into a strong Church. The rites of the Church are the Seven Sacraments. These are also symbolized in the window, closer to the figure of Christ. Above him are the font of Baptism, the chalice and host of Communion, two doves approaching a chalice - Confirmation. Nearer the bottom are a stole and a book for Holy Orders, and an olive branch and an oil stock for Holy Unction. Below these are entwined lamps and rings surmounted by a cross for Marriage and crossed keys and scourges for Penance. At the apex of the window is the Holy Spirit dove.

The chancel windows were French ade by SM du PC - not the Willet Studio. These include the windows in the Sacristy, narthex and vestibules. No record of the designs is known. They illustrate the story of St. Martin thus: on the Gospel side - St. Martin breaking down heathen altars and St. Martin waited upon by the Empress, on the Epistle side, St Martin building the monastery at the Monmontier and the burial site of St. Martin. the window over the altar is titled simply St. Martin. Apex contains IHS (iesus hominum salvator or in hoc signo), 2 angels facing Gospel side (left) lancet - Top enrolled in the Roman Army, Center Christ appears to him, bottom, ordained by Hilary, center lancet. Top St. Martin of Tours, bottom St Martin and the beggar, Epistle side (right) lancettop in his cell at Poitiers. Center raising the widows son, bottom Bishop of Tours

Sacristy, Vestibules and Narthex Windows

 In one sacristy window are words of the Commendation for the dying found in the Prayer Book (1928, p319), "Depart, O Christian soul..." In the other "May the souls of the faithful..." Over the door Ascendat Oratio Descendat Gratia. The west vestibule has, or is to have Old Testament Prophets. The west Vestibule door has panes of etched glass showing Ten Commandments and Temple Worship. the narthex window shows St. Christopher.

The West Window

The four lancet west window was designed and executed by the Willet Studio. It illustrates the history of the Church, the Anglican Communion in particular. The seal of the latter appears in the tracery. Across the center of the window are four larger figures. The first of these is St. Paul the great missionary that legend tells traveled even as far as England with news of the new religion. He holds an open book and the "sword of the spirit."  Next is St. Joseph of Arimathea who buried the body of Jesus in his new tomb. He is supposed to have brought the Holy Grail to England. He holds a flowering staff, the Glastonbury thorn. Next is St. Alban, the Roman soldier who was the first Christian martyr in Britain. Fourth is St. Augustine who was sent by St. Gregory the Great to England to find that Queen Bertha was a Christian. Her husband King Ethelburt was baptized and gave the land upon which Canterbury Cathedral now stands.

Continuing across the top of the lancets, first is St. David of Wales. He was famed as a great orator. Once when he was speaking, a white dove lighted on his shoulder. This also explains the trumpets. St. Columba is shown sailing to Iona in a small boat to found the famous monastery. Next is St. Thomas a Becket who was killed at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral. John Wycliffe and Thomas Cranmer represent the Reformation period, the one for beginning the translation of the Bible into  English, the other for the Prayer Book.

Across the bottom the subject is the Anglican Communion in America. In the center two lancets is shown Master Fletcher, chaplain of Sir Francis Drake who held a Prayer book service in California in 1579. to the left is Bishop White, first bishop in Pennsylvania. To the right is Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, first bishop in the new United States who had to go to Aberdeen Scotland to be ordained.

The background of this window is a flowing leaf and branch pattern that seems to reecho that of the Great commission window.