Stewards of a Treasure

Grace-St. Luke's cares for seven magnificent Tiffany stained glass windows that date back to 1889. That year, one of the benefactors of Grace Church, Mrs. W. A. Gage, met a representative of the Tiffany Glass Company at the Paris Exposition. She personally underwrote three windows, including a glorious window depicting Christ’s ascension to be hung above the altar. The vestry commissioned four more windows as it built its new building at the turn of the century, and these were installed under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany himself. When Grace merged with St. Luke’s in 1940, it brought the windows, and they were installed throughout the building.

Today, Grace-St. Luke’s Tiffany windows are thought to be the largest collection of Tiffany windows in a parish church in the South, and window scholars recognize the windows as prime examples of the Tiffany palette.

"Ascension"

Commissioned for over the altar at Grace Church, this Tiffany was given in memory of former rector the Rev. George Patterson, D.D., by Mrs. W. A. Gage and the installation was supervised by Tiffany himself. Mrs. Gage had met a representative of Tiffany's at the 1898 Paris Exhibition.

The surrounding panels comprise The All Saints Window, the later work of Payne-Spiers Studios, given by the parish from 1949 to 1954 to complete this magnificent tribute above the main doors and narthex of the merged church.

The window was restored for the very first time in a 1998-2000 restoration project.

"The Light of the World"

The Light of the World window was removed during a 1960s parish hall renovation. It did not resurface until 1988 when it was discovered in a packing crate in a garage behind a nearby house used by the Episcopal Church Women's Bazaar. It was a stroke of good luck -- the garage was soon to be demolished. The window was restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

Today it hangs in Trezevant Hall, flanked by the Tiffany windows depicting the Annunciation and Resurrection Angels.

"Annunciation Angel"

"The Annunciation Angel" and "The Resurrection Angel" flanked the "Ascension" window above the altar in Grace Church in downwtown Memphis from the early 1900s to 1939. Today they flank "the Light of the World" in Trezevant Hall.

Both were restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

"Resurrection Angel"

"The Annunciation Angel" and "The Resurrection Angel" flanked the "Ascension" window above the altar above Grace Church in downwtown Memphis from the early 1900s to 1939. Today they flank "the Light of the World" in Trezevant Hall.

Both were restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

"The Boy Jesus in the Temple"

"The Boy Jesus in the Temple" -- one of three Tiffany windows now displayed in the east wall of the chapel -- was restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

"The Nativity"

"The Nativity" -- one of three Tiffany windows now displayed in the east wall of the chapel -- was restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

"Jesus in Joseph's Carpentry Shop"

"Jesus in Joseph's Carpentry Shop" -- one of three Tiffany windows now displayed in the east wall of the chapel -- was restored as part of the 1998-2000 window restoration project.

The Tiffany Windows Music Project

To celebrate GSL's Tiffany Windows, Luna Nova Music commissioned five composers to write new works inspired by these beautiful treasures. These extraordinary pieces were premiered during Memphis' 2010 Belvedere Chamber Music Festival.

Below are links to each of these exciting performances:

John Baur, Tiffany Annuciation (flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, cello, piano)
James Carlson, Ascension (organ)
Andrew Drannon, Ascension Syndrome (organ)
Robert Patterson, Windows for Children (violin, horn, clarinet, bassoon, organ, singers)
Mark Volker, Sculpted Light (flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn, piano, and cello)