The artistry of the stained glass windows of our sanctuary reaches its climax in the Great Window, or the Window of the Four Evangelists. At an early date tradition assigned to each of the four Gospels, in the New Testament, and their authors, a symbol. St. Matthew's was that of a winged man, St. Mark's a winged lion, St. Luke's a winged ox, and St. John's a soaring eagle. The reason behind this symbolic representation has long since been lost, but the symbols themselves have remained imbedded in Christian art. Thus the two evangelists who appear in this window stand over their ancient respective symbols.( Euangellion is the Greek word for Gospel, or Good News. An evangelist in this sense is, therefore, the author of a Gospel.) Each has a scroll in his hand ( and St. Luke also holds a pen), symbolic of their literatry contrubution to the proclamation of the Gospel. Over St. Mark's head is a small diagram containing the initials of his name together with the statement "Lord, make his paths straight," a quotation from Isaiah with which he opens his Gospel (Mark 1:3). Over the head of St. Luke a similar diagram appears, surrounded by the words "St. Luke, the beloved physician," a title that Paul bestowed upon this, his companion on the second and third missionary jouneys (Col. 4:14). The two outside panels, one to the left and one to the right were blank. It was hoped, that on some future date it would be possible to place in them the representations of the other two evangelists, St. Matthew and St. John, a purpose for which they were originally intended.

The St. Matthew and St. John window panels were added in 1975. The St. Matthew panel bears the following inscription: "In memory of Mr. and Mrs. James Matthew Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ovensen, by Mr. and Mrs. Ewing Milton Bailey, May 1975." The St. John panel bears the inscription: "In memory of Mr and Mrs. Henry F. Turner, Henry Fielding Turner, Jr., by Dr. and Mrs. Walker M. Turner, May 1975."

There are a few other interesting details to this window. The rosette at the very top portrays Christ in Gethesemane. On each side of the rosette is a small diagram representing the Greek characters of the words "Jesus" and "Christ." Below the rosette are two quatrefoils, one containing the symbol of the anchor, an ancient Christian emblem of steadfastness and hope, and the other the symbol of the cross.

This window bears the following inscription: "In memory of the Reverand Willian E. Cave, DD., pastor of this church for twenty-five years."

We hope, in the near future, to have a suitable photograph of The Four Evangelists Window for display here.