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Church windows endure as true works of artBy BETSY GANT‘it never fails to give me a sense of awe,” said Peter Rohlf, owner of Itohlf Stained and Leaded Glass Studios of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He was carefully holding a large piece of drapery glass which had come from a beautiful Louis Tiffany window. “When the glass was hot, Tiffany pulled it into folds, just like cloth. That was quite innovative.”The window was lying on a large table 011 which were spread many pieces of glass. Rohlf explained, “We’re in the process of restoring it.We’ll use modern epoxy glues to get the glass inside new lead supports, and then the window will be ready for another hundred years.Why is Peter RohlFs studio important to this locale? It is because his business bought Payne Studios of New Jersey, the maker of nine of the handsome stained glass windows in the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, 320 E. Davis St. George Payne, originally a Canadian, operated the successful Payne Studios in Paterson, N.J. for many decades, then sold it to Rohlf in 1981. Though Rohlf kept none of Payne’s old records, he still had insights to offer when he looked at photographs of the Episcopal windows.“The two windows — the nativity and the boy Jesus in the temple — are in the same style and were probably doneby Albert Holtz, Payne’s chief designer during the 1940s.The later windows of the 1960s could have been done by Al Felberg, a designer for the Spiers company which was associated for a time with Payne.” Rohlf pointed out good designers and artists are essential to a glass studio, for most of the process of crafting a window is still handwork.Rohlf examined a picture of the window which shows the sisters Mary and Martha entertaining Jesus in their home. This was installed by Payne in 1962. Martha stands behind Jesus with a heavy ring of household keys, and a worried look on her face. Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, serenely reading the scriptures. Here is the age-old conflict of the stresses of the physical world intruding upon the needs of the spiritual world. Behind the figures, a blue curtain symbolically separates the outside courtyard and this inner room where the sisters sitwith Jesus.This window is a memorial to Anne Morgan Moore, who came to Burlington from Aiken. S.C., to be tutor tothe day of the week of any given date, past or future. He also carried on voluminous correspondence with celebrities all over the country and was deeply interested in the Berry Schools in Georgia, which educated indigent rural children.Mr. Erwin Holt gave the window entitled “Road to Emmaus” in memory of his first wife, Mary Warren Davis, originally of Raleigh. This window, one of the 1947 group, shows Jesus after his resurrection appearing unrecognized to two of his disciples. They are walking to a small village, Emmaus, about seven miles form Jerusalem. The tower in the upper right corner denotes the village or perhaps the inn where the disciples plan to stop. Their figures are bent forward in absorption as they listen to the mysterious stranger who talks so understandingly about the scriptures.Just beyond the Emmaus window is a corrider which leads to the Parish Hall. It is in this corridor where a smallPilate windowEmmaus windowMary, Martha windowAnne Erwin Holt (now Mrs. Ivor Massey), daughter of Eugene Holt and granddaughter of Lawrence Holt, benefactor of the Episcopal Church. Anne Morgan subsequently married Allen D. Moore, and they and their family were active members of the church for many years.The Moore window is part of a chronological sequence that George Payne planned with the church when he began work in the early 1940s. “It’s customary,” said Peter Rohlf, “to plan all the windows at one time. Then the church installs them as it can. Otherwise the windows would not have a logical order.”is fluid and graceful. Suspended on a small cloud, her feet do not touch earth for she is a heavenly messenger.The Gethsemene window is a memorial to Edwin Cameron Holt and his wife, De-lores Stevens Holt, who were parents of Mrs. William Thomas Cheatham and grandparents of Mrs. Harry James. Edwin C. Holt was the son of James Holt and grandson of Edwin Michael Holt, textile pioneer. Following in the family tradition, Edwin Holt went into the textile business and became president of Delgado Mill in Wilmington and Carolina Cotton and Elmira Mills in Alamance County.Mrs. Edwin Holt was of44spring, or the triumph of life over death. Pilate sits in a chair of state, and the mantle around his shoulders is red, the color of sovereign power among the Romans and also the color of blood. Rohlf pointed out the strong connotation of colors as symbols.Long ago, people immediately associated certain meanings with colors, and this added to the message of the window.” Installed in 1962, this window is a memorial to Erwin A Holt. Holt, oldest son of Lawrence Holt, was a man of wide interests. He had the unique mathematical ability to determinestained glass window depicts St. Ceceila. Made by Lamb studios, another old and reputable house, the window was dedicated on April 4, 1971. The story goes that St. Ceceila was so close to heavenshe could hear the angels sing. It was reputed she could play any instrument. When not any of the instruments expressed the music she heard inwardly, she invented the organ. This window is in memory of Sadie Steele, a touching tribrute as “Miss Sadie” was church organist and choir director for manyyears.The market for stainedPlease see Windows / 11After Payne installed the first two of his works, lead for the supports became unavailable due to World War II, and his studio shut down temporarily. After the war, the rector, Lewis Schenck, and the congregation made a concentrated effort to obtain morestained glass windows. A group of four new ones was dedicated on Dec. 14, 1947.The window called “Garden of Gethsemene” is one of these four. It depicts Jesus praying in the garden, and looking up in supplication to an angel who holds a chalice. The chalice or cup signifies the ordeal which he is aboutlt;(r.to accept.Artistically speaking, this is a very fine image,” said Rohlf, as he examined the angel. She is magnificent with ruby colored wings and golden hair, and the design yf her^ail'rou mantle and bU*e sashstrong Episcopal heritage since she was the daughter of Bishop Peter Fayssoux Stevens, the Episcopal Bishop of South Carolina. Their only child, Delores, affectionately known as Dolly, married William Thomas Cheatham of Henderson, also in textiles. Their daughter, Delores, is Mrs. James.There are two other Payne windows on this north wall of the nave. One shows Jesus before Pilate, who is symbolically washing his hands, and refers to the passage in Matthew where Pilate declares,“1 am innocent of the blood of this just person.Jesus stands barefoot, hands bound, wearing the crown of thorns and a robe of purple, the liturgical color for Lent. In the corner is an urn or ewer which holds water for the basin. The ewer isHave you ever been at a loss to answer a child’s questions about death? Have you ever wanted to comfort a grieving friend - but didn’t know how?I%■Because we believe it is importan to have this type of informatior available to you, we have started lt;library of resources to help yoi with the problems and question!associated with death.Please feel free to call for moreinformation or to stop by anytime.PAULA LOWEANOTHER REASON TO CHOOSE.• •f»lt;HOtXJNKRAl, HOME, INC2205 SOUTH CHURCH ST. BURLINGTON228-8366green, denoting vegetation or
Newspaper Details
Burlington Times News
Burlington, North Carolina, US
Thu, Oct 01, 1992
Page 32
Full Page
Clipped by
Jennie L.
VA, USA 12 Sep 2020
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