St Thomas's New
Stained Glass
Mary & Anna
The story of Mary and Anna, or the Presentation, begins when Mary brings the infant Christ to the temple in accordance with Jewish law. Parents would bring their infant to the temple to give thanks to God for the mother and child’s survival of childbirth. Mary and Joseph bring two pigeons—an offering that reveals their humility and poverty, fitting for the One who would model humble love for the world. Our Episcopal rite of “Thanksgiving for the Birth or Adoption of a Child” finds its roots in this story, and the Feast of Candlemas commemorates it.
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In the temple, Mary (and Joseph) encounter Anna (and Simeon), a prophetess who had spent her life in prayer. After her husband’s death, Anna devoted herself to God, patiently awaiting the day when redemption would be revealed. When Mary enters, carrying the infant Christ, Anna’s weary eyes recognize the fulfillment of every hope she had prayed for. In the meeting of these two faithful women—one young, whose “yes” to God changed the course of history; one old, whose lifelong faithfulness is fulfilled in this moment—we witness hope passing across generations as God’s kingdom breaks into the world. Their witness, as bearer of the Word and prophetess, calls us to embrace steadfast faith in our own lives.
Naomi & Ruth
The story of Ruth and Naomi begins in a time of famine when Naomi leaves Judah with her family. After the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return home. Ruth, however, refuses to abandon her: “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). In Ruth’s steadfast devotion and loyalty, we glimpse the very heart of covenant love—a love that mirrors God’s faithfulness to us. Their journey from grief to new life in Bethlehem reminds us that God is always at work weaving hope out of hardship.
Miriam
Miriam’s story is a pivotal moment in the Jewish Bible. After the Israelites cross the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army is defeated, Miriam leads the women in song, taking up a tambourine as they proclaim: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:21). This is the first recorded instance of a woman leading worship in Scripture, marking her role as both prophet and leader.
Her song is more than a celebration—it’s an acknowledgment of God’s deliverance and a way of guiding the people to remember this act of salvation. Through her leadership, Miriam models communal worship and theological reflection, showing how music and ritual can anchor a community’s understanding of God’s power and faithfulness. And even as a child, Miriam demonstrated remarkable courage: she saved her baby brother, Moses, placing him in a basket and following him until he reached Pharaoh’s household, where he was adopted and cared for.
While Miriam, Aaron, and Moses did not always see eye to eye, her successes and struggles in leadership offer timeless lessons for church leaders today.
Sarah & Hagar
Hagar’s story is a powerful story of resilience. She is the first person in the holy scriptures to name God. Cast out and alone in the wilderness, Hagar calls God El Roi—“the One who sees me.” God stays faithful to her, making sure she and her son survive.
For Muslims, Hagar is also a matriarch, since Ishmael is considered an ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad. During the hajj pilgrimage, Muslims visit the place where they believe that God caused water to spring from a rock to save Hagar—the Zamzam Well.
This story, with its joys and struggles, connects Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as these three Abrahamic faiths trace their beginnings back to Abraham and Sarah.
While the story contains tension and division, it also speaks of hope and God’s faithfulness. In our window, we chose to depict Isaac and Ishmael looking back at one another—a quiet gesture of reconciliation, reminding us of an ongoing longing for peace and reconciliation.
The people of St. Thomas have noticed something important: women from the Bible were underrepresented in the stained glass windows of our nave. At the same time, we had eight empty window spaces—waiting to be filled. With the vestry’s support and Mother Jane Maynard’s blessing, a group of parishioners gathered to discern which women’s stories should be honored. Thanks to the dedication of a small lay committee and staff, the creativity of stained glass designer William Frank, and the craftsmanship of artisan Blake LaRue, the vision is now taking shape. This fall, we will host weekly Bible studies and a podcast on each story, as we prepare for the joyful installation during the week of December 8, 2025.