Central's Windows

On a crisp, sunny winter Sunday morning, the beauty of Central’s sanctuary is especially enhanced by its colorful stained glass windows.

These beautiful windows were part of the concept for a worship space from the time Central’s cathedral-like sanctuary was just an idea in the minds of the founders of the congregation and their pastor, Dr. J.A.O. Stub. The structure – a combination of French and English Gothic – relies on those windows to create a place of serenity, yet with a strong focus on the altar.

“Symbolically, Central Lutheran was built as a magnificent setting for the altar,” said Thomas Gaytee of Gaytee Stained Glass Co., Minneapolis, back in 1928 when his firm fabricated the windows.

Central’s stained glass windows punctuate all four sides of the building. The windows vary greatly in size and appear at three different levels. There are the large windows reaching nearly to the ceiling, the somewhat smaller windows ringing the balconies and finally the small windows around the ground floor that trace the march of the Reformation church.

The four large transept, chancel and rear windows are 22 feet wide by 35 feet high and made of both imported and domestic painted glass, says John Salisbury, current owner of Gaytee. The firm used methods employed by craftsmen of the medieval period. Some pieces of glass received a base color paint and subsequent coats to achieve a particular look. The glass was fired in a kiln to activate the paint. Some individual pieces of glass required up to four firings at temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees. The final look of some pieces was achieved through hand-rubbing techniques to remove some of the paint that had been applied.

The large south-facing window was enclosed with the 1963-64 installation of Central’s Casavant organ. It is lighted from within its enclosure and visible to evening travelers approaching downtown Minneapolis on Interstate 35W.

The colors of the glass hold much symbolism, as described in the presentation program of memorial windows and gifts dated April 22, 1928:

• White stands for innocence and joy
• Red, the fire of love which the Holy Spirit kindles and sheds forth within us
• Green, the hope and desire of Heaven
• Purple, penitence and reminder of our Lord’s passion
• Gold, glory, victory
• Blue, steadfastness, loyalty

In some of the windows, for example, there are 26 different shades of red alone.

Between the two transept windows and the front of the church are six windows that are quite different.

A 1928 Minneapolis Journal article said this about Central’s windows: “Owing to the size and the number of windows…it was decided to dispense with figure work or symbolic representatives of the scriptures and carry out the windows in Gothic Graisaille effects. This gives the…openings a feeling of laciness similar to the famous windows of Westminster cathedral.”

The smaller main floor windows (lancets) are of particular interest. They are arranged in eight pairs and represent in chronological order the national emblems of the great countries which have embraced the faith of Luther since the Reformation. Beginning on the west (Epistle) side, the windows, in order, represent: Germany, Saxony, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Holland and Switzerland. Crossing over to the Gospel side, they represent France, England, Poland, Scotland, Canada and America.

In the center of each panel is a true quatrefoil or four-leaf flower containing the following:

• A square cross symbolic of the Reformation principle
• A crown, the symbol of victory, at the top of the cross
• A national emblem just beneath the crown, each representing one of the countries listed above
  

Here’s a description from the original 1928 bulletin for the dedication of the sanctuary windows:

“Window One – The flag of Germany, the mother country of the Reformation. Paired with Germany is the Saxon lion on a field of gold, in memory of the greatest Saxon of them all – Dr. Martin Luther.

333 South Twelfth Street • Minneapolis, MN 55404 • Infoline: 612-767-9101 • Main line: 612-870-4416 • info@centralmpls.org

 

“Window Two – The blue and gold flag of the kingdom of Sweden and the blue and white cross flag of Finland. Under God, it was Gustavus Adolphus, the hero of the Thirty Years’ War, with his blue clad Swedes and Finns who saved the day when Germany lay prostrate.

“Window Three – The flag of the kingdom of Denmark, always a staunch supporter of Reformation principles, paired with the red, white and blue cross flag of the kingdom of Norway, whose liberty-loving people never yielded entirely to the despotic sway of medieval hierarchy.

“Window Four – The blue, white and red cross flag of Iceland, which has the oldest parliament in existence and gave to the western world its modern systems of government, together with the old flag of Russia. Before World War I about three million Russians were members of the Evangelical faith. No one suffered more for their faith than these brave and loyal people.

“Window Five – The flag of the kingdom of Holland paired with the flag of Switzerland. The earliest American Lutherans came from Holland. John Calvin is typical of the uncompromising nature of the freedom-loving Swiss people.

“Window Six (crossing over to the east side of the sanctuary to windows now incorporated in rear doors to the commons) – the tri-color of France is placed in recognition of the brave Huguenots together with the broad-barred flag of old Britain. (What heroes she has reared for the faith! What an influence the English Bible has wielded!)

“Window Seven – The flag of Poland and the flag of old Scotland with its St. Andrew’s cross. The Polish flag reminds us of the Bohemian, John Huss. Though Poland today is not a Protestant nation, so many of her sons and daughters have died and bled for the faith that they need to be remembered. And what an influence Scotland has had with its church leaders, poets and princes among preachers.

“Window Eight – The beautiful Star Spangled Banner is placed at the Gospel side of the chancel, therefore the place of honor. The flag of the Dominion of Canada is its companion.”

Small stained glass windows with more traditional symbolism adorn both the Marriage and Baptismal chapels located on either side of the chancel.

A more recent addition to Central’s array of stained glass windows is the contemporary window in the All Saints Chapel section of the Fellowship Hall. This horizontal window features about a dozen colors in a cross that dominates the window. Vertical lines within the window suggest city structures, sky, water and rain. The design was by Macalester College art professor Bill Saltzman. The actual fabrication of the window was by Gaytee Stained Glass Co.

Gaytee also did restoration work in 2000-2001 on three of Central’s sanctuary windows that were determined to have been damaged by nearby pile-driving and construction of the Minneapolis Convention Center and the parking ramp.

By Russ Tokheim

About the Author:
Russ Tokheim and his wife, June, have been members since 1960. Now semi-retired, he has been involved in communications activities for the church as a volunteer as well as staff positions.

Reprinted from Grand Central, February 2003