Saturday, June 27, 2015

A Curious Stained Glass Window

Inside First Baptist Church, I wanted a closeup of the lectern, where the name of Frederick MacAllister is marked in the wood. He was an Royal Canadian Air Force pilot killed in action during the Second World War.


This silver trowel can be found at the back of the sanctuary. It was given to Prime Minister MacKenzie when he laid the cornerstone of the church, and returned to the church by his grandson. One of the members present mentioned something I didn't know- MacKenzie had been a stonemason in his younger years, and preferred a proper trowel to a ceremonial one.


I came up to the organ loft, where the organist was playing. 


Up there I got a good look at the stained glass windows on the north wall of the church. They are referred to as the Memorial Windows.


They are a peculiar set; Christ is flanked on the right by a riverman and a lumberjack on the left, with nature incorporated into the glasswork. Both are symbols of the Ottawa Valley, and so they're fitting for the sanctuary.

44 comments:

  1. Inspiring is the word that comes to my mind! Beautiful place.

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  2. I love the windows. And thanks for telling us the story behind them.

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  3. Wonderful history and interesting windows.

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  4. I have already seen elsewhere some 'localization' in religious imagery, and it is always a bit surprising.

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  5. Happy Saturday to you. You have snow yet? It's cold and raining here, but I love it.

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  6. The organ reminds me of the palace in Asgard....

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  7. those are very appropriate for the Ottawa Valley. Very interesting place.

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  8. Love that there are Canadian references in the stained glass.

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  9. All very cool! Love the idea of a riverman and a lumberjack in stained glass.

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  10. That's cool about the trowel. I'd like to have such a nice one for archaeology.

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  11. Just a lovely building. I love that organ! Nothing like a pipe organ.

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  12. @Sharon: thank you!

    @Halcyon: you're welcome.

    @Pamela: I thought so too.

    @VP: this city and the valley has a lot of history with both occupations.

    @Gnome: indeed!

    @Whisk: no, it's nice and sunny today.

    @Norma: I can see that!

    @Gill: thank you!

    @Jackie: I've seen such references in other stained glass, quite often the Parliament Buildings.

    @Linda: me too.

    @Dina: it's a good memento for the church.

    @Lowell: it's a very nice organ. In previous visits the organ loft hadn't been open.

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  13. Amazing history and lovely photos ! Sorry I haven.t been here for a while have been busy so I am now catching up on blogs today as it is very windy and rainy ! Thanks for sharing . Have a good weekend !

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  14. The trowel in an interesting touch!
    Janis
    GDP

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  15. I like the last photo that shows all the brilliant colors!

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  16. The wood has beautiful details.

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  17. Lovely church. I like the story about the trowel!

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  18. Nice reference to the area in that glass! It's nice that something became of the trowel rather than just being in a drawer somewhere.

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  19. I love the symbolism of the riverman and lumberjack.

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  20. Stained glass windows (or other accoutrements) that symbolize the local are where a church is built always seems so welcoming and respectful of the parishioners who gather there to worship.

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  21. @Country Gal: thank you!

    @Janis: it is. I can't think of another church that has one on display.

    @Jan: thank you!

    @Sharon: I was glad to get up close to it.

    @Marleen: it certainly does.

    @Cheryl: so did I.

    @RedPat: this is a fitting use for it.

    @Eve: there's such a strong history for both, so putting them into a church window fits.

    @Linda: it really is.

    @Hamilton: that's true.

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  22. I may be sacrilegious, but geez. A trowel!!!

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  23. I like the idea behind this stained glass piece. The meaning is a little closer to reality.

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  24. I like that stained glass window William, seems very fitting..

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  25. Unusual maybe but very nice, especially if you got to visit while the organ was being played. A silver trowel eh?

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  26. Interesting story about the trowel. I think my favorite picture here is of the organ pipes. They're very visually interesting instruments.

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  27. I wish I could have heard that organ playing!

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  28. Always cool to see Jesus hanging with folks like us. Here we have a surfing savior!

    http://shop.photosofaloha.com/Architecture/St-Andrews-Church/1241923_fjXCmc/1/66670460_cBFFJmR/Medium



    ALOHA
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  29. William, I always enjoy stained glass windows in churches. You take particularly good photos to them. Thanks! And thanks for your kind words in your comment.

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  30. Love Nomas comment, both of you crack me up !
    Lovely windows.

    cheers, parsnip

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  31. Such lovely details William, although I'm not religious I really enjoy visiting churches to feel the history, and of course there's the windows :)

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  32. I really like how the stained glass has incorporated the region in which the church is built. And the trowel adds a human element that I can appreciate.

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  33. A riverman and a lumberjack? Not the most common figures in the stained glass windows I have seen.

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  34. @Jennifer: quite appropriate, though, given its history.

    @Red: that's quite true.

    @Geoff: it does.

    @Shelly: indeed.

    @Ciel: it was quite something to come in and see.

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  35. @Mari: thank you.

    @Kay: that they are.

    @Lois: it sounded good.

    @Cloudia: thank you.

    @Lynette: you're welcome.

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  36. @Randy: I agree.

    @Parsnip: thanks!

    @Grace: these are good ones.

    @EG: they're quite appropriate for this area.

    @Jack: they seem to fit well though.

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