When I joined St. John’s Lutheran Church over twenty years ago, one of the building’s most interesting features was the beautiful ornate alter.
Above is a recent photo of St. John’s alter as it appears today. Multiple members of the congregation have told me about the “hidden” stain glass within the walls behind the alter. When asked what the stain glass looks like, people weren’t exactly sure. Several times I heard something about a shock of wheat.
The “hidden” stain glass was bricked over as part of the 1964 fellowship hall addition. The addition created a roof line approximately 1/2 way in the windows. Also this area was needed to connect the sanctuary to the fellowship hall.
The above mid-1950′s photo shows St. John’s alter with the “hidden” windows to the left and to the right. This is the first time that I’ve seen this stain glass but wasn’t able to make out what exactly was on them.
Vintage wedding photos gave some clues as to what were on the stain glass windows but the images still weren’t clear. Quiz: who’s getting married in these photographs?
Examination of this photo of a 196o’s Confirmation Class revealed the best images of the stain glass. After running the photo through PhotoShop, the below images appeared.
Looking at the alter, here is the LEFT stain glass window. Kurt Blessing was correct in that it is a wheat shock!
Looking at the alter, here is the RIGHT stain glass window displaying a chalice.
Per Andy VanEvery, there is a 3rd stain glass window behind the alter itself. As part of the church remodeling, within the next few weeks the windows to the left and right of the alter will be open after 45 years. However not until the alter is moved will we see the window behind it. Who knows what this window is? Please post your comments below.
