Ken Chute
from “Beauty & Grandeur:
The Art & Grace of St. James Catholic Church, Wilkinsburg, PA”
Compiled 1981 by Richard Hissrich and Gregory Kirchner
The Stained Glass Windows
Wright Goodhue Company of Boston designed the stained glass window panels which line the walls of the nave, the transepts and the sanctuary. They were manufactured in D’Ascenzo Studios.
Recently an element for special parish pride in St. James stained glass windows was uncovered in the large, “coffee table ”book, “Stained Glass: The comprehensive Guide to the World’s Best Stained Glass, ”(Lawrence Lee, George Seddon, Francis Stephens, with photographs by Sonia Halliday and Laura Lushington; Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, NY 1976) featuring outstanding stained glass windows of Europe & America. In the book’s gazetteer section, or selective listing of locations featuring “. . . the hightlights of European and American stained glass, from the Middle Ages to the present day, ” St. James is the only Catholic church in Pennsylvania that is listed for consideration.
Ken Chute
Listed below are the general themes and images of St. James’ windows. Our particular thanks to Richard Hissrich and Gregory Kirchner, members of the parish worship committee in 1981 who, with binoculars in hand, painstakingly identified the symbols of St. James’ church stained glass windows and carefully researched their symbolism and meaning. It was unquestionably a labor of love.
THE FIVE HIGH WINDOWS OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NAVE (facing the sanctuary) depict KEY PERSONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. Starting above the balcony, they are ADAM & EVE, NOE, MOSES, EZEKIEL, & JEREMIAH.
THE EIGHT LOWER WINDOWS OF THE RIGHT SIDE depict THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. Two of the windows portray 2 commandments each.
Pawsburgh Photography
Pawsburgh Photography
Pawsburgh Photography
THE FOUR HIGH WINDOWS OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE NAVE depict KEY CONCEPTS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. Starting from the rear they are, THE ANNUNCIATION, THE NATIVITY, THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, & OUR BLESSED LORD.
THE EIGHT LOWER WINDOWS OF THE LEFT SIDE depict THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS AND GRACE.
THE WINDOWS IN THE CORRIDOR BEHIND THE CONFESSIONS are seldom seen. PORTRAITS OF ST. JAMES’ PREVIOUS PASTORS & BISHOP BOYLE in stained glass make up these four windows. the first is BISHOP HUGH S. BOYLE, bishop of Pittsburgh from 1921 to 1950. The next three, in order are FATHER JOSEPH MITSCH, pastor at St. James from 1950 to 1960; MONSIGNOR STEPHEN WALSH, 1919–1950; MONSIGNOR A. A. LAMBING, 1885–1918.
THE LARGE WINDOW GROUP ABOVE THE BALCONY is a beautiful display. It depicts THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS.
The LEFT PANEL depicts THE BLESSED MOTHER, QUEEN OF HEAVEN. Above her are ADAM & EVE. Below her are ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, then several of those listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, cahpter 1 and Luke, chapter 3; BOOZ (Boaz), kinsman of Naomi, married to Ruth; ESROM ARAM, son of Shem (Gen. 10:22); NAASON, of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 1:7) and assistant to Moses.
The CENTER PANEL shows the HOLY TRINITY & the SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The RIGHT PANEL presents ST. JOSEPH, husband of Mary & foster-father if Jesus. Above him is the EXPLUSION FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN. Below him are additional figures from the genealogy of Jesus, including MANASSES, the eldest son of Joseph (Gen. 41:51), & adopted by Jacob as his son; AZOR, son of Eliakim, father of Zadok; ELIAKIM, the son of Abiud; PARES (Gen. 38:29), and ADOC. Also depicted is JOSES (Joseph), listed in Mark 6:3 as the brother of Jesus, and Mark 15:40 as the son of Mary Cleopas who stood with Mary Magdalen at the Crucifixion, looking on from a distance; ARNON (Num. 21:14), and ACHIM, son of Zadok, father of Eliud.
Pawsburgh Photography
Two windows in the SIDE ENTRY WAY (RECTORY SIDE) depict the two social sacraments of HOLY ORDERS and MATRIMONY. A HOST & CHALICE, with the words “Thou art a Priest forever. ”in one, and INTERTWINED FLAMES FROM TWO OIL LAMPS with the words “What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
Pawsburgh Photography
The two REST ROOM WINDOWS depict the ALPHA & OMEGA, the first & last letters of the Greek alphabet, and the FISH AND THE ANCHOR. The fish is a symbol from the earliest days of the church, found on the catacomb walls even earlier than the cross. The first letters of the Greek words for “Jesus, Christ, God’s Son, Saviour, ”spell out the Greek word ICHTHUS, or fish. The anchor is a symbol for hope.
In THE CHURCH VESTIBULE are two ornate but small windows with these interesting sayings: "ALL THAT PLEASURES IS BUT A MOMENT; THE ETERNAL ONLY IS IMPORTANT"; and "ALL THAT TROUBLES IS BUT A MOMENT; THE ETERNAL ONLY IS IMPORTANT."
The PRIEST’S VESTING ROOM off the vestibule was formerly the baptisty. One small window there has A SHELL & AN ANCHOR, depicting Baptism and Faith. The saying beneath, in Latin, is misspelled, saying "EGOTE BAPTIZO." Egote, in fact, should be two words, “Ego ”& “te, ”meaning “I baptize you."
The CHAPEL WINDOWS, beginning on the right, depict the Parts of the Mass, according to its pre-Vatican Council order of service. For some reason some of the inscriptions of the Mass parts are in Latin, and others are in English, with no perceived logic for the differences.
THE LARGE TRANSEPT WINDOWS ON THE LEFT SIDE depict CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES.
The CENTER PANEL shows OUR LORD & STS. THOMAS AND BARTHOLOMEN.
The LEFT PANEL portrays ST. PETER, STS. ANDREW & JAMES, AND STS. PHILIP & JAMES.
The RIGHT PANEL depicts ST. JOHN, STS. SIMON & THADDEUS, AND JUDAS & ST. MATTHEW.
THE LARGE TRANSEPT WINDOWS ON THE RIGHT SIDE are representative of PRISTHOOD AND SACRIFICE.
The CENTER PANEL depicts MELCHIZADEK, who, as priest, ministered to Abraham, PETER, Pope & martyr, and PAUL, Apostle & Martyr.
The LEFT PANEL shows STEPHEN, Deacon and first Martyr, THE SACRIFICE OF ABEL, ST. JOHN NEPOMECENE martyred in 1383, ST BONIFACE, martyred in 307, & POTHINUS, Bishop, martyred in 177.
The RIGHT PANEL portrays JAMES THE GREATER, Apostle & Martyr,THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC BY ABRAHAM, ST. FRANCIS OF ASSIS, and DOMINIC, ST. PATRICK and ST. AUGUSTINE.
THE WINDOWS ABOVE THE SANCTUARY & SIDE ALTARS are all related to THE PASSION AND DEATH OF JESUS. Above the left side altar the theme is the first window presents JOANNA, wife of Chuza, steward of Herod Antipas, who was among the women who deiscovered the empty tomb.
The second shows DYSMAS, the good thief, and the third, OUR LADY.
Opposite our Lady is ST. JOHN the beloved disciple. The next window is MARY MAGDALEN, the last MARY CLEOPAS. The window above the right side altar shows SIMON OF CYRENE.
Clif McGill
THE WINDOWS IN THE CORRIDOR BEHIND THE SANCTUARY depict THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES, PRUDENCE JUSTICE, TEMPERANCE & FORTITUDE.