Stained Glass Windows in the Sanctuary
First Baptist Church of Royal Oak
The number of symbols expressive of elements in the Christian faith has grown through the centuries. Today, there is a rich variety of them. They surround one in the sanctuary and chancel of this church. They portray Christian faith, heritage and doctrine, reminding of the "truth that makes man free." Symbols derive meaning and power from the spiritual reality they represent. As we sense the reality behind a symbol, we come to appreciate its truth. May this appreciation and understanding enrich the spiritual experience of all who worship in this sanctuary which is dedicated to the worship of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Entering the sanctuary from the narthex, there, rising upward in the center of the chancel, is the empty cross. The significance of the crucifixion becomes complete only through the resurrection. Therefore, the empty cross, like the empty tomb, reminds us that we are called to be disciples of the Living Christ.
Immediately beneath the empty cross of our Risen Lord, are the baptistry and communion table. As baptism symbolically dramatizes the basic commitment of Christian discipleship, the communion table and its practice of the Lord's Supper, in repeated observance, emphasizes our continuing need for spiritual renewal as members of the body of Christ.
In the sanctuary windows, there is a truly remarkable variety of religious symbols - some abstract, some pictorially specific in reference to particular Bible stories.
These windows were given to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Peterson and their sons, Thomas Jr., and Shepard, as a memorial to their parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Shepard and Mr. and Mrs. John Beebe Peterson.
The church is deeply appreciative of these unique and remarkable windows with their symbolic presentation of the Christian faith, heritage and doctrine.
Created by the talented Svea Kline of Birmingham, Michigan, they are done in a unique medium called "gemmaux. " They are decorative panels of harmonizing colored English and Swedish glass which exhibit a brilliant, gemlike quality.
After extensive research in historic church practices, Miss Kline carefully designed each window pane, developing the symbols to correct scale in the form best suited to gemmaux art.
In the process, a pane of double-strength, clear glass is used as a base. Finely fractured glass in appropriate colors is then placed on the clear pane, arranged in the pattern or form of the symbol desired. A pane of single-strength, clear glass is next placed on top, making a three-layer gemmaux pane approximately three-fourths inch in depth. This is placed in a ceramic kiln for firing, followed by a three day cooling period. When the process is completed, there is a moment of anxious concern as the gemmaux pane is removed from the kiln lest the design may not have fused correctly. It is a moment of triumph when the symbolic pane not only appears as hoped, but it may also have an extra quality of light refraction which adds to the iridescent effect of the pane as the light shines through it.
There are 76 gemmaux panes in the windows of the First Baptist Church of Royal Oak. Beginning
with the first window to the right of the altar, as one faces the altar, and proceeding to the rear of the
sanctuary the following symbols appear. Some of them are repeated in more than one window. Many
reappear in the balcony window.
