History of the Stained Glass

Dimnent Memorial Chapel has some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in Michigan.

The rose window in Dimnent Memorial ChapelThere are six windows each on the north and south sides of the building, a large chancel or lattice window in the background of the stage on the east side, and a rose window above the entrance on the west side. The windows highlight Biblical figures accented by medallions and shields significant in church history.

Read more about each of the windows below.

East Chancel Window

The chancel window is above the choir loft on the east wall. The window was a gift of Paul E. Kleinheksel, Frank D. Kleinheksel and John Lewis Kleinheksel in honor of Professor John H. Kleinheksel, Mrs. Anna S. V. R. Kleinheksel and Miss Vera Anna Kleinheksel.

The Rose Window

The beautiful rose window, a gift from the 鶹Ƶ Class of 1916 and constructed at a cost of $4,000, is located on the west wall above the balcony and contains three rows of petals.

The row around the 鶹Ƶ seal has six university seals portraying historic education. The first is the coat of arms of the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. This is the university attended by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, who was instrumental in the establishment of 鶹Ƶ. The others are from American universities – Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the University of Michigan. These seals are interspersed with academic symbols – a palette portraying the fine arts; a metric figure for geometry; a harp for music; a blazing sun for astronomy; chemical equipment for chemistry; and a scroll and pen for literature. Note: It was discovered years after the window was installed that the founding date of the University of Michigan is incorrect. It is 1817.

The center contains the 鶹Ƶ seal. An anchor, the symbol of 鶹Ƶ, is highlighted in the middle. The name, seal and motto of 鶹Ƶ were derived from a statement by the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, “This is my anchor of hope for this people in the future.” The college motto, Spera in Deo (Hope in God), is taken from Psalm 42:5.

The outside row of 12 windows tells the story of Christianity, from the Creation to the birth of Christ.

North Arcade Window

NOrth Arcade  window one 


North arcade window two 


North arcade window three 


NOrth arcade window four


North arcade window five


North arcade window six 


South Arcade Window

 South arcade window one


South arcade window two 


South arcade window three


South arcade window four 


South arcade window five


South arcade window six


Miscellaneous Windows
 

Using glass imported from France and Italy, Dimnent’s stained glass windows were created by the George Hardy Payne Studio in Paterson, New Jersey, and installed during the building’s construction in 1927–29.

The principal artist was Signor G.A. Zucci, an Austrian from Venice, Italy. He was selected because of his knowledge and skill in European cathedral and antique designs. His draughtmanship and color work received the highest tribute throughout Italy and Eastern Europe.

A major preservation and restoration of the windows by the Hauser Art Glass Company of Winona, Minnesota, took place in 2000.