Why Do Churches Have Stained Glass Windows?

Stained glass windows were the first public "picture books" of the Bible. As far back as 350 A.D., churches used stained glass windows to visually tell Biblical stories about God, spirituality, mortality and humanity. As the art form and architecture evolved, windows became more prominent in the great cathedrals of Europe and today are still used in churches of all sizes and denominations throughout the world.

Purpose

Initially, stained glass windows were a to educate a mostly illiterate population about the Bible and God. Theophilus, a twelfth-century German monk and artist, wrote in "Diverse Arts" that stained glass windows helped "lift men's souls closer to God."

Window subjects

Each window can portray an event such as the birth of Christ, a symbol such as chalice or dove, or a scene from the Bible or a saint's life.

Use of Panels

Parables or longer stories are often "take place" over several windows (panels).

Rose Windows

The rose window style uses many small pictures laid out in a circular frame and placed prominently at an entrance or above an altar. The most famous example is the Rose Window at Notre Dame in Paris.

Use of Light

Artists use certain colors and placement to take advantage of sunlight at different times of day. When lit from the inside, the windows come alive to the outside world.

References

• Faith, Hope and Light: the Art of Stained Glass Windows, Yvette M. Chin, 1999
• Stained Glass Association of America
• Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art