John K. Clark - Glasspainter

Kilmacolm Old Kirk - Text

DESIGN BRIEF

Main elements of the design brief

Miss Betty Peden-Fyfe was a calligrapher.
The window should have a sense of fluidity and movement.
Contribute to the worship of God
A theme of light and prayer
The following text from Malachi
"see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing"
The concept of Christ as "the Light of the world "

The Concept

I have sought to bring together the various suggestions contained within the design brief in a logical and theological solution.
Taking the fact that Miss Fyfe was a calligrapher and that there was a desire that this specific text should be used, I decided to approach this design the text as a starting point.
The combination of text and symbolism continues a series of works I have made over the last 10 years exploring this concept. The most recent example is the Millennium Window for Glasgow Cathedral. In this project I want to create a sense of the text acting almost like a veil through which the viewer sees and reads the symbolism therefore working on two levels almost like a parable. The resulting works creates a very modern and complex interwoven image. I wanted to create windows that work on two levels, from a distance the symbolism, the grand gesture takes precedence and only on approaching will the text become clear.
To create the veil, I wanted that the each of the texts filled the available space. The full texts and their arrangements within the space can be are contained below.

The Windows

Give to God what is due to God and God will bless humanity.
This stark and direct message is the basis of the symbolism contained within the windows.

The First Window

Although Malachi contains other requirements about keeping the Law, this has all been represented by the gesture of the offering. In this case the offering being a burnt offering in the temple. What is being offered is a token of the "first fruits" a sheaf of wheat and a vine with grapes. This combination of the wheat and the vine symbolise the Eucharist to come.
There was also a reference in Malachi to the sun and it seems appropriate to have the rising sun as a source of light, the coming of the New Testament era and the sickle moon representing the end of the Old Testament.

The book of Malachi is also a pointer to the coming of John the Baptist. The other quotation I have included here is quite beautiful and powerful; “ See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. ...“. And with this book the Old Testament comes to an end.

The Second Window

Since the first window points to the coming of first the messenger, the second text is about the messenger, about John the Baptist and how one greater than he would come and be the light of the world.
The infant is presented here as a gift from God, the ultimate blessing and the centre point of the composition as a whole. The “light of the world“ the “Word made flesh“. Presented in a gesture reminiscent of the crucifixion and with symbols of the nativity; the star and the lamb. The violets are a symbol of humility. There are leaves on both sides of the window cherry and peach.

The Third Window

The third quotation comes also from St. John and symbolises the Baptism of Christ.
The main symbolism here is the lamb with a dove descending with the outpouring of the water of baptism. The dove in this representation is a symbol of the trinity, three representations of the dove, the three persons of the Trinity. There are willow leaves growing on either side.

In each of the three windows there is a window in upper part with a typical cross member. This in total gives a feeling of the three crosses. This follows along tradition of stained glass using literal examples from a given time. The windows of heaven are seen as open and from the structure giving a slight remembrance of the three crosses.

Conclusion

What I have been trying to achieve is a natural theological and symbolic progression between the sections of the window.
The sense of the texts flow from one to the other. The New Testament flowing from the Old. The Old Testament acting as a pointer to what was to come.
The sense of God making a new Covenant with humanity.

Technical Information

The windows would be made using what is known as flashed glass, double layered glass. It will be extensively and repeatedly etched to create the wide tonal range indicated in the design, painted and silver stained to create the detail. Indeed the windows are made using the same permanent techniques as the other windows in the church only the design concept is new and different.
The windows would be installed in the existing stone raggles and would be supported by stainless steel saddle bars.

Text 1

From the book of Malachi

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. ...
and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy

See, I
am sending
my messenger
to prepare the
way before me,
and the Lord who
m you seek will
suddenly come to
his temple. ...
and thus put me
to the test, says
the Lord of hosts
; see if I will
not open the
windows of heaven
for you and pour
down for you
an overflowing
blessing. ...I will
rebuke the locus
t for you, so that
it will not dest
roy the produce
of your soil;
and your vine in
the field shall
not be barren,
says the Lord of
hosts. Then all
nations will
count you happy.

Text 2

From the book of St John

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him... And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father‘s only son, full of grace and truth.

There
was a man sent
from God, whose
name was John. He
came as a witness
to testify to the
light, so that all
might believe
through him. He
himself was not
the light, but he
came to testify
to the light. The
true light, which
enlightens every
one, was coming
into the world.
He was in the
world, and the
world came into
being through
him; yet the worl
d did not know
him... the Word
became flesh and
lived among us,
and we have seen
his glory, the
glory as of a
father‘s only
son, full of
grace and truth.

Text 3

From the book of St John ,“There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason,... “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.‘

,“There is the
Lamb of God
who takes away
the sin of the
world! This is he
of whom I said, ‘
After me comes a
man who ranks ah
ead of me because
he was before me
.‘ I myself did
not know him; but
I came baptizing
with water for
this reason,... “
I saw the Spirit
descending from
heaven like a
dove,and it
remained on him. ..
the one who sent
me to baptize
with water said
to me, “He on whom
you see the
Spirit descend
and remain is
the one who
baptizes with
the Holy Spirit.'