United Church of Dorset and East Rupert The Story of Our Stained Glass Windows
Our Church Worship services began in Dorset in the homes of early settlers, John Manley and Cephas Kent, about 1773. The first regular meeting house was built soon after in the old portion of the cemetery. In 1797 or 1798 it was moved to a location across the street from the present building. It remained there until 1832 when it burned in a violent storm. A new building was then put where our church now stands, but in 1907 it too burned. With two wooden churches having burned, it was most fortunate for us when the Norcross Building Company offered to give us a supply of locally quarried marble so we could rebuild with marble. The dedication took place on August 30, 1910. The Sunday School addition and pastor s study was built in 1972.
The Stained Glass Windows We are very proud of the unusual stained glass windows in the sanctuary representing, as they do, the spirit and beauty of our valley The Rose Window The rose window over the chancel is in memory of Lydia Greenleaf Sykes. It was installed when the present church was built in 1909.
The East Windows On the East Wall (or to the left as you enter the church) are three windows largely inspired by the eastern landscape of the valley. They are best seen in strong morning light. The front window, given in 1944, is memorial to Howard R. Pfaelzer and is based on the view from his garden in Dorset Hollow. The center window, given in 1914, is a memorial to Harriette Sykes Humphrey. It is based on a view from her garden, looking east toward Green Peak. The third window, given in 1975, is in memory of Cornelia B. Lee and reflects her love of flowers and birds, particularly cardinals.
Lee Window Humphrey Window Pfaelzer Window The greatest of these is love. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own words praise her in the gates. O come let us sing unto the Lord.
The West Windows On the west wall, the scenes are generally based on western views, best seen in strong afternoon light. The front window was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Edwin C. Codman in 1949, and presents a view to the west toward Mother Myrick from the former Codman garden on Church Street. The center window is a memorial to Herbert N. Williams, given in 1941, and is a view taken from a point just south of the village, including Henrietta Jackson s elm. The third window is a 1979 gift from Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Lefevre and Dr. Virginia McDonald, dedicated to the love for all children and animals.
Codman Window Williams Window Lefevre-McDonald Let thy father and mother be glad and let her that bare thee rejoice And a little child Shall lead them.
Entrance Door Window Over the entrance door is a memorial window installed in 1909, to Dr. and Mrs. Parsons S. Pratt. Dr. Pratt was pastor of Dorset Church from 1856-1896. Window Designers The rose window was designed and executed by the Tiffany Studios. The front four windows in the sanctuary, two on each side, were designed by Wallace W. Fahnestock, Dorset painter, and long time member of the congregation and a protégé of the famous stained glass producer John LaFarge, who originally worked with the Tiffany Studios. The third east window (on the left) was designed by Frederick L. Leuchs, who, interestingly enough, entered the stained glass business because of the encouragement of John LaFarge s son. The third west window (on the right) was designed by the Chapman Stained Glass Studios.
The Franks Window, a gift from the Franks Family, is in fond remembrance of their years in Dorset. Installed in the West Wall in 1983, it is one of three windows in the church to come from the Chapman Stained Glass Studios of Albany, New York. The Lefevre-McDonald Window was a product of this concern, as was the last window to be dedicated, The Bicentennial Window.
The Bicentennial Window was presented to the congregation on September 23, 1984. Its commission and acquisition were the result of a fund-raising effort centered around the celebration of the church s 200th anniversary, and its dedication was an integral part of this celebration. To quote from the church program of the memorable Sunday: With the dedication of the Bicentennial Window today we complete the stained glass windows of our church sanctuary.the Bicentennial Window is the offering of us all to our church.
I lift up my eyes to the hills from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth... The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore. Psalm 121