Church Commorative Plates: Wesley UMC (OKC)

First in a series.

As benchmarks in a church's life were achieved there were celebrations and plates were created to mark the anniversary of the birth of the local church in communities across the country.  These are sometimes found in antique stores as well as church files or display cabinets.  They are a unique and fragile piece of church history often expressing notes of history, showing images of long gone buildings, and naming names of leaders long forgotten. Sometimes there merely show an image important to the congregation ( a beloved leader, a church building, a feature of the building, or something reflective of local character and heritage).  Their construction can range from sturdy stoneware to the most fragile and delicate of finer china.

 

These images are from Wesley United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. The church began life in 1910 as Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1928 they constructed a classic English Gothic sanctuary with stained glass windows at the corner of NW Classen Blvd. and NW 25th.

50th Anniversary Plate, 1960

100th Anniversary Plate, 2010

 

The Rose Window of Barnard Memorial United Methodist Church

Dr. Sydney Babcock is credited with there being a "rose Window" in the west front of the Barnard Memorial United Methodist Church in Holdenville, Oklahoma. Dr. Babcock, one time pastor, and well known Methodist scholar and leader had served in WW1 in France where he fell in love with the rose windows found in many old churches there.  He dreamed, it is said, that one day he might see a church he led have such a lovely window.   The "rose window", often also called a Catherine window, is a round window with some type of spoke design in the plan.  It's name as a Catherine window is based on an early Christian saint said to have been martyred on a wheel.

The window measures approximately 14 x 25 and its classic petal shape holds ten symbols of Christianity.  In the center are three flowers which are white and resemble lilies.  Starting at the top right (when viewed from the inside) area a crown, stalks of wheat, an anchor, the Greek letter "Omega", cross, the Greek letter "alpha", the 10 commandment tablets, a cluster of grapes, an open Bible, and a descending white dove.

These are all classic Christian symbols with specific meanings dating back to the earliest days of the faith.  The lilies may signify purity but also majesty and resurrection, and is often symbolic of Christ, 'the Lily of the Valley.' The crown refers to the 'Crown of Life', the reward of the faithful after life.  The wheat is symbolic of Christ, the Gospel and the believer and it is referenced in many New Testament verses.  The anchor is a symbol of hope.  The Greek Letters refer to a statement by Christ about the 'beginning and the ending' as they are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Cross is symbolic of the work of Christ in redemption. The grapes are thought to be symbolic of Holy Communion and of the blood shed by Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. Grapes are also symbolic of the fruitfulness of the Christian life (the true vine of the Gospels).  The open Bible represents truth and revelation.  The descending dove represents the Holy Spirit of God and when it holds an olive branch it also denotes peace.

UNIQUE WINDOW

All of the glass windows of Wesley UMC in Oklahoma City feature scenes from the life of Christ rather than more traditional scenes from throughout the Bible.  The exception is one small window along the south cloister.

 

The window, added in 1928, is called "The Tie Around the World" and was dedicated "For God, Home, and Every Land." by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, of which many members called Wesley home. 

 

A more correct title would be the "White Ribbon Around the World" as the white ribbon was the symbol of the WCTU. It symbolized  a pledge that members of the WCTU made to pray for members around the world each day at noon. In this way they kept their concerns always before God. The WCTU was specifically concerned about the devastation resulting from alcohol abuse in homes and society. They campaigned to educate youth, change laws, and influence their society. Their zeal stemmed from a strong conviction that the promotion of temperance was a part of their response to the Great Commission.

 

Is this the only window its kind?  Attempts to locate and identify similar memorial windows has been unsuccessful so far.

Memorials in Light and Color

This begins a series  (hopefully) of lists of the individuals memorialized in stained glass in Oklahoma churches, with a special emphasis on Methodist windows.

This first installment will highlight the windows of Wesley United Memorial UMC in Oklahoma City. The church was established in 1910 and in 1928 they dedicated a new sanctuary done in the English Gothic collegiate style with numerous stained glass windows, many of which were memorials to specific people or groups. The glass was provided by the Kansas City Glass Company.

Narthex (1)

In this area, there are various donations and gifts such as plaques, furnishings, and decorations.

 

Cloister, North (3)

(West) “The Nativity” – Mrs. William E. Rowland

(Center) “The Boy Christ”- Mr. & Mrs. J. Edgar Strader

(East) “Christ at the Door”- Mrs. Clara Bell & Family

 

North Transept (3)

“The Transfiguration” (1928)-Mr. & Mrs. Hillard John Scott

(West) “The Last Supper” –Mr. & Mrs. L.R. Springer

(Center) “Jesus and His Mother”- Ladies’ Bible Class

(East) “The First Disciple” 

 

Chancel - West or Choir (4)

“The Beckoning Christ” (Come Unto Me) (1928) - Mr. Overstreet, father of Mrs. Campbell Russell

 

South Transept (5)

“The Good Shepherd” (1928)- Mrs. Jessie B. Fleming and Mrs. Virginia C. Shike

“Rich Young Man”- T.Harold and Captain W.E. Corkhill

“Gethsemane”- Mrs. D.G. Murray & Family

“Best Friend” – Mrs. Laura S. Day and Miss Olga Stokesberry

“Empty Tomb”- Mr. & Mrs. O.H. Putney

Cloister, South (or Ambulatory) (6)

(East) “Holy Women of the Tomb”- Mrs. N.A. Whittaker and Family

(Center) “World Encircled” – WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union)

(West) “The Ascension”- Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson and Miss Minnie Suitor

 

East Window (7)

“Jesus Blessing the Little Children” (1928)- Mrs. Florida Knight.

Exterior:

Triangular Plot (East) – Fronting east entry area between Douglas and Classen Blvd. Land donated by noted early Oklahoma City founding leader, Anton Classen (before 1928).  Mrs. Classen later donated landscaping and other improvements.