Chancel Windows
Rollins Chapel was completed in 1885, and at the time of the dedication of the Chapel, three memorial windows were in place in the chancel, and one in each transept. The original design of the Chapel incorporated a skylight and stained glass windows with the intent of maximizing natural lighting. The stained glass windows throughout the Chapel were dedicated to honor the past Presidents of the College. The Chapel was originally intended to be a Christian place of worship, and was donated for that express purpose.
by Noah Riner '06
Construction
In 1964, renovations to Rollins Chapel resulted in concealment of five stained glass windows commissioned for the chancel area of the Chapel. These windows depict Christian figures, given in honor of past Presidents of the College. Former Dean of the Tucker Foundation Richard P. Unsworth had the windows covered in the face of the declining spiritual interest in students. According to George Hawthorne, former College architect, Unsworth's idea was that by concealing the windows, students would be more attracted to the chapel. The stained glass windows have a rich history and are of the finest quality; their artistic value alone made their restoration imperative. Accordingly, the college authorized the uncovering and restoration of the presidential windows in 2006. The windows can be covered when necessary for artistic or religious reasons.
The President Bennet Tyler Window
The President Bennet Tyler window, which depicts the Apostle Paul, was given by Edward Tyler of Boston, MA. It was made by Donald McDonald of Boston. Mr. McDonald also made the two side transept windows, which depict Moses and St. James. The chapel dedication brochure describes in detail the President Tyler window: "He stands in the posture of a speaker, in the vicinity of a Grecian temple, his left hand resting upon a sword, which when so held denotes martyrdom-although when borne aloft, "fighting for the faith."
The usual colors of his dress, the blue tunic and white mantle of the Greek pictures, or the blue or green tunic and yellow mantle of latter works of art, here give way to a reddish and brown, more in accordance with the prevailing colors of the chapel."
The President Francis Brown Window
The Francis Brown window was donated by Hon. Francis Brown Stockbridge of Kalamazoo, MI. The window was crafted by F. X. Zettler at the Royal Bavarian Stained Glass Works of Munich, Germany, one of the most celebrated manufactories in Europe according to the dedication brochure.
The original dedication brochure also describes in detail the figure, a depiction of the Apostle John: "He stands, his head encircled by the customary nimbus of the saints, his right hand raised in the mode of the Latin benediction, viz., the thumb and two fingers open and straight, the third and little fingers bent, the open fingers being said to symbolize the three persons of the Trinity, the closed fingers the two natures of Christ. In his left hand the apostle holds the traditional chalice with the serpent, referring, doubtless, to the alleged ineffectual attempts to destroy his life and the promises of Christ, Mark, vxi., 18. His tunic is of the traditional green, with red drapery, his attitude graceful, and the expression of his countenance benign and spiritual, and, as is customary, of almost feminine beauty. The figure may be regarded as a fine rendering of the traditional representation of the apostle. It will bear inspection as a work of art, while the entire effect of the window as viewed at some distance is bright and striking."