Reflections of faith: Utah's stained-glass wonders

Stained glass • Glowing patterns help Utah churches spread the Word and 'lift men's souls closer to God.'

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Tiffany window of the

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Detail from

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Tiffany window of

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Three panels tell the story of Christ's Anunciation, Resurrection and Journey on the Road to Emmaus at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Holy Spirit at Pentecost" at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 279 South 300 West Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Christ in Gethsemane" at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, 12 C St. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "The Apostles" in the drum of the dome at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 279 S. 300 West. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Christ's Resurrection" at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 279 South 300 West Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Assumption of Mary" at Cathedral the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, in the center, surrounded by angels playing various musical instruments," in the Rose Window at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Tiffany window of the "Angel at the Tomb" at St. Mark's Epsicopal Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Resurrection of Christ" in east transept of Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple. The upper section of the window features, in the center, Mary Magdalene greeting the resurrected Christ at the tomb. Images of saints on outer edge of window: left to right, beginning at top center: St. Francis de Sales, St. Agnes, St. Stephen, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernard, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Monica (mother of St. Augustine). Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Detail from "The Resurrection of Christ," at Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 East South Temple Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Tiffany window of "St. George the dragon slayer," the patron saint of England, at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "The Last Supper" at St. Mark's Epsicopal Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "Christ Knocking on the Door" at First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "The Angel Guarding Christ's Tomb" at First United Methodist Church, 203 S. 200 East. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Three panels tell the story of Christ's Anunciation, Resurrection and Journey on the Road to Emmaus at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune "St. Andrew" at First Baptist Church, 777 S. 1300 East.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· March 18, 2011 9:32 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Christians and Jews long have harnessed the beauty and wonder of sun streaming through glass to hint at the glory of God — and to tell stories of the faithful.

Starting in the mid-12th century, Gothic cathedrals of Europe were taller and lighter than their predecessors, allowing the sun to dance on stained glass as it filled in the gaps.

Abbot Suger of the Abbey of St. Denis in France believed "that the presence of beautiful objects would lift men's souls closer to God," according to a history provided by the Art Glass Association headquartered in Zanesville, Ohio.

By assembling bits of multicolored glass into an intricate pattern, artisans could help everyday believers who could not read — which was most of them — understand the Bible.

"Medieval man experienced a window more than he read it," according to the Art Glass essay. "It made the church that special, sacred dwelling place of an all-powerful God."

Many Utah churches and synagogues, historic and modern, feature stained glass as an avenue for storytelling and worship. From simple details such as a dove, signifying peace or the Holy Spirit, or a menorah, suggesting the miracle of faith, to a panorama of apostles and evangelists, these windows are a gift, not just to believers but to all Utahns.

Here is a photographic sample of the many lovely windows that dot the area's religious landscape.

— Peggy Fletcher Stack —

The art of faith — a yearlong series

P Throughout 2011, The Salt Lake Tribune is featuring a monthly series about religious art and artisans. Today: Some of area churches' stained-glass treasures.

To view a gallery of these windows and more, go to http://www.sltrib.com.

To read previous stories in the series, go to http://www.sltrib.com.