The Beauty of Holy Week and Easter in Stained Glass
Pelican
window from St. Martin's Church, Brampton, UK
One of the best things about
the Internet is that it affords an opportunity for people of talent and passion
to share their interests with others. A terrific illustration of this are the
photographs that have begun to appear on the Net by Neil Ralley. This talented
man has combined his appreciation for the beauty of stained glass with his skill
as a photographer in a project of immense value: he is systematically capturing
on film some of the most beautiful stained glass in the churches of America (his
adopted home) and England (where he grew up). Neil's was among the scores of requests
that I get every month, asking me to review a website for inclusion on these pages.
Frankly, there isn't time to visit all these websites, let alone review them.
But something about Neil's note made me want to take a look right away.
I was not disappointed. What I discovered was truly wonderful. (For
a larger view of the photos on this and additional pages, simply click on the
thumbnail.)
It is not easy to capture a stained glass image on film.
Think about it. First, you'll need to get permission to take the photographs,
and once you do that, you have to position your camera to get a clear shot of
a window in some cases located far above the sanctuary floor. Often the illumination
is uneven or artificial, distorting the colors of the glass. In most cases,
Neil has solved these technical difficulties. Next, if you are going to make your
photographs available to others, you'll need to research the history of the windows
and the artists who created them. You'll want to place the artists' work in historical
context and evaluate its significance. Ralley does all of this. And
then he takes an additional step: he has published his photographs, in some cases
with commentary, on a website, so that others can share what he has learned.
The
Crucifixion detail, St. James Church, Staveley,
UK
It's interesting that though
many of these windows are hundreds of years old, there is something strangely
contemporary about them. Indeed, those who have grown up in the digital age and
spend a great deal of time on the Internet, will probably understand what I am
getting at right away. Stained glass windows are illuminated as are ANY images
that appear on your computer screen. Looking at these photographs, especially
in their larger formats, on your computer, comes closer to duplicating the experience
of looking at the windows in their original church setting than you could ever
get by looking at the same photographs printed on paper. You can get even closer
to the experience that stained glass makes possible by dimming the light in the
room where you are sitting right now, as you follow the links listed below, tracing
the Easter story in stained glass. Notice, there are three dimensions involved
here, even though you are looking at what are technically two dimensional images.
First, there are the events, faces and figures, rendered by the artist by joining
different pieces of glass in pleasing combination. Second, there is the light
shining through the glass, or in this case the gentle illumination of your computer
screen which casts a warm glow into the room, just as the sunlight casts its glow
into the interior of a darkened church. Finally, there is the realization that
what gives our own existence its vitality, is not, in the end, any detail of the
surface, but rather the light that comes shining through. It's when you see that
the inner and the outer light are one that the deeper meaning of these windows
becomes clear. This is not just about appreciating an ancient and beautiful art
form; it's about coming to an awareness of how the whole of one's life can be
illuminated. Have a blessed Easter.
The
Risen Christ appears to Mary as a gardener. Trinity Church, Saugerties,
NY
If you want to talk with someone in person, please feel free to call 917-439-2305
The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here. God and Science (Hypertext Edition,
2015).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion: Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2017).
Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.