The long tradition of visual art communicating the Good News of the Gospel continues at St. Luke’s through our historic windows, high altar, and baptismal font. Please enjoy this brief tour of the beautiful artistry and profound Christian narrative present in our church.
The Ascension Window
Rising two stories above St. Luke’s high altar, the stained-glass window depicting the Ascension of Jesus Christ was created and installed by Tiffany Studios in 1892, during reconstruction of the original 1871 chancel after damage from a nearby fire.
“While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.”
– Luke 24:51
The Baptismal Mosaic
Behind the Baptismal Font at the front of the nave is a 7,000 piece mosaic of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This stunning mosaic was designed and installed by Tiffany Studios during the 1905 renovations. Look closely and discover fine details such as the toes of Jesus seen through the water.
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’”
– Mark 1:9-11
The Annunciation Window
Installed in 1915, the window depicting the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary was manufactured by John Hardman & Co., of Birmingham, England.
“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’”
– Luke 1:30-31
The Nativity Window
Another creation of Tiffany Studios, the window depicting the Nativity was gifted to St. Luke’s in 1910 by George Dickson in memory of his wife and two children.
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”
– Luke 2:15-16
Jesus Teaching in the Temple
A replacement for one of the original church windows, this window was designed by artist Frederick W. Cole of the Studios of George L. Payne in Paterson, New Jersey, executed in London, England, and installed in 1962. The window illustrates the young Christ teaching in the temple.
“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. “
– Luke 2:46-47
Jesus Healing
Another replacement window installed as a gift in 1965 and created by Payne Studios of Paterson, New Jersey, this window shows Jesus curing infirmities and driving out evil spirits.
“They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.”
– Luke 6:18-19
Jesus Entering Jerusalem
The last of the replacement windows from the Studios of George L. Payne in Paterson, New Jersey, this window was installed in 1965. The window illustrates Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
“As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’”
– Luke 19:36-38
The Good Shepherd Window
Originally on the opposite side of the building, this window depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd was moved to the small chapel at the back of the nave created in 1989, where St. Luke’s columbarium is located. The chapel is now aptly named “The Good Shepherd Chapel”.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”
– John 10:14-15
The Penny Windows
The South wall of St. Luke’s nave features three original windows from the 1871 construction of the church. Nicknamed “The Penny Windows”, they honor Mrs. Henry Rockwell’s collection of pennies from the Ladies of St. Luke’s and the Sunday School classes to pay for the windows. The glass was painted and then fired, designed and assembled by Alphonse Frederick & Brother of Brooklyn, New York.
The windows feature rich Christian symbolism. In the window closest to the back of the nave, we see a pelican feeding its young with blood from its breast, a medieval symbol of atonement, over roses which convey Messianic prophecy. In the center window, an anchor, a symbol of hope mentioned in Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul,” – is featured over lilies, a symbol of purity. The final window depicts a cross fleury – a cross adorned with flowers, conveying divine kingship- rises over thistles, reminiscent of Christ’s crown of thorns.
The High Altar
The marble and Caen stone high altar on the East wall of St. Luke’s was part of a 1905 renovation of the chancel. Designed by Tiffany Studios, the altar was constructed by the Whitman Company of Philadelphia. The carved scenes of the reredos illustrate the King of Salem, Melchizedek, Priest of God Most High, offering bread and wine and blessing Abraham; the crucifixion of Christ; and the Supper at Emmaus. Beneath, carved into the center of the altar itself, is the Ark of the Covenant which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, surrounded by adoring cherubim.
“And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth;’”
– Genesis 14:18-19
“There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’”
– John 19:18-19
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.
– Luke 24:30-31
“You shall put the mercy-seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. There I will meet you, and from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.”
– Exodus 25:21-22
Thanks in part to these beautiful works of art, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Help preserve the beautiful artwork of St. Luke’s with an offering or donation: