STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


MADONNA AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST WINDOW

(East, or New Testament Wall)
Madonna and St. John, the Baptist


As the windows of the west wall describe the story of the people of God in the Old Testament, the windows of the east wall do the same for the New. The New Testament story begins with the birth of our Lord and the launching forth of His public ministry. Therefore it is natural that the two figures represented in this first window of the east wall should be that of two persons connected with these events, Mary, the mother of our Lord, and John, the Baptist.

Mary is pictured with the inscription of her words, "My soul doth magnify the Lord" (Luke 1:46). This is Mary's response to Elizabeth and the opening line of the Magnificat, a hymn Mary spoke in praise of the Lord. It has become part of church liturgy. These words are woven around the symbol of a lily, or fleur-de-lis, the three stylized prongs of which were an early emblem of the Trinity. The flowers in her hand are Madonna Lily traditionally depicted in representations of the annunciation as a symbol of the purity of the Virgin.

John the Baptist appears, according to the description of him in the first chapter of Mark's Gospel, "Clothed with camel's hair and a leather girdle around his waist." Mark also tells us that the food of John the Baptist in the desert was wild honey and locusts, and so our artist has engraved a small insect above his head. Around this diagram are John's words spoken in John 1:36 "Behold the Lamb of God." A small lamb is nestled in his right hand, and in his left he bears a blood red cross, both symbols of our Lord's sacrificial death.

One incident connected with the birth of our Lord is recorded in the quatrefoil at the top of the window. This is the angelic annunciation to the shepherds of Jesus' birth. (Luke 2:8-14) "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

The inscription at the bottom of the window reads: "Presented by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Province and Nell Holland Province."