| In selecting both
color and design of the kneelers, it was of prime importance to
consider those elements common in the nave’s lovely center aisle
carpet and our glorious stained glass windows. The carpet was
designed by Rosemary Clark Stiefel of Decatur, GA in 1993, using
both colors and symbols unique to Grace Church. The vibrant red
background color symbolizes martyred saints, love, hate, sovereign
power, Pentecost, and passion. Gold is the symbol of both sun and
Divinity. The color yellow may have either of two opposing
symbolic meanings, depending on the way in which it is used.
Yellow can depict light, the source of illuminating and revealing
truth. St. Peter was often painted wearing a yellow robe because
he finally told the truth in his knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. In Renaissance paintings, the glow of a golden yellow
symbolized sacredness, a source of divine light. On the other
hand, the traitor Judas was frequently painted in a dingy yellow
robe, to represent treason and deceit. Blue represents heavenly
Love, the unveiling of truth. It is the color of the sky, the
Heavens. Purple represents royalty, and the imperial power of our
Lord God. It is also the color of sorrow and penitence. We also
recognize it as the Liturgical color of Advent and Lent,
anticipating the joyous festivals of Christmas and Easter. Green
is the color of vegetation and of the Spring season, therefore
symbolizing the triumph of Spring over winter, life over death.
Being a mix of yellow and blue, it also suggests charity and the
regeneration of the Soul through good works. It is the color we
use during Epiphany. Brown signifies spiritual death and
degradation. It reminds us of life without Christ. It also denotes
renunciation, a sacrifice of worldly goods, thus the color worn by
Church orders such as the Franciscans. Grey brown is the color of
ashes, signifying mourning and humility.
All of the kneelers
share a common design of a red background and a central blue
trefoil, anchored on both sides by a grapevine. Symbolically, the
trefoil refers to the Trinity, signifying one God in three
persons. The three circles of the trefoil also represent eternity.
Within the trefoil on each kneeler is a symbol, either Christian
or relevant to Grace Church. Those which are common to both our
runner and kneelers are the anchor, Fleur de Lis, butterfly, corn
or wheat tassels, vine, and grapes. Explanations of these symbols
will be furnished in the individual kneeler descriptions that
follow.
The stained glass
windows of Grace Church are not only beautiful, but also add a
feeling of warmth to the sanctuary. Through the use of traditional
symbols and depiction of Bible stories, they provide a “visual
devotional and teaching medium” (The Windows of Grace Church:
A Pilgrimage of Faith). The stained glass window project was
undertaken in early 1954 under the leadership of Sidney O. Smith,
Jr., who was then the Treasurer of the Church. Originally
installed in the old nave and moved to the new sanctuary when it
was constructed in 1993, all of the windows were designed and
created by J & R Lamb Studios, Clifton, NJ. The first
windows were installed in December of 1954, and many more have
been and are still being added. The rich colors of the windows and
many of the Christian symbols used in them have been shared with
both the central tapestry and the new kneelers.
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