The Clerestory Windows of the Choir, nine in number, of which seven are above the entrances to the seven Chapels of Tongues, are designed to depict the Book of Revelation of St. John the Divine. Seven of them are in place. They are of painted mosaic glass made by Messrs. James Powell & Sons of Whitefriars, London, according to the methods used in the thirteenth century and cost $10,000 and upwards apiece. Each window is of three lights with rose window at the top, and is 28 feet high and 17 feet wide. The seven windows above the entrances to the Seven Chapels of Tongues (north to south) are designed to symbolize in their circular lights the messages to the seven churches in Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation (i. 11), in the order there named: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. They are connected by the inscriptions in their lower borders which read consecutively as follows:
“Grace be unto you and Peace from Him ‖ Which is and Which was and Which is to come ‖ From the Seven Spirits which are before His throne ‖ Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness ‖ The First Begotten of the Dead ‖ The Prince of the Kings of the Earth. ‖ To Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever” (Rev. i. 4-6).
These windows, which are of surpassing charm to the unaided eye, flash out with extraordinary brilliancy of color and affecting beauty of composition and execution, particularly those called “Christ Reigning in Glory” and “the Woman in the Sun,” when examined with long distance glasses (apply to Verger), although the less brilliant windows contain subtle details well worth studying, as, for instance, the symbolisms of the elements held by the angels in the window above the Chapel of St. Boniface. Individually, from north to south:
St. John and the Seven Churches are the subject of the window above the Chapel of St. Ansgarius. In the upper part of the central light, St. John between two praying angels is depicted in the character of Apostle, beardless, and holding the sacramental cup—the young St. John, symbolical of love and high ideals and the feeling which filled all his writings; while in the lower part he appears as the aged exile on the Isle of Patmos, sitting with book in lap and pen in hand, listening to the angel behind him who commands him to write (Rev. i. 11). In the side lights are the angels of the seven churches (i. 11), bearing on scrolls their names: (Upper left) Ephesus; (lower left) Smyrna and Pergamos; (upper right) Thyatira and Sardis; (lower right) Philadelphia and Laodicea. In the circular light at the top are the name “Ephesus” and a shield bearing the seven candles mentioned in the message to the church of Ephesus (ii. 1). In the lower border of the three lights runs the inscription: “Grace be ‖ unto you and Peace ‖ from Him.” The window was given by Mrs. E. C. Ludlow Johnson in memory of Gabriel Ludlow.
The Natural Elements upon which the vials of the wrath of God were poured (Rev. xvi. 2-17) are the principal subject of the window above the Chapel of St. Boniface. In the lower part of the left side light is an angel holding between his hands the earth (green foliage); in the middle light three angels respectively holding the air (invisible), the sun (yellow glow), and the sea (green waves); and in the right side light an angel holding the rivers and fountains (blue currents). In the upper part of the middle light is the Lamb that was slain (v. 12) between the four beasts (iv. 7) which are in the side lights—on the left, the lion and the beast with the face of a man; and on the right, the ox and the eagle.[27] In the circular light at the top are the word “Smyrna” and a shield bearing the crown of life mentioned in the message to the church in Smyrna (ii. 10). In the bottom border is the inscription: “Which is and ‖ Which was and Which ‖ is to come.” A tablet in the Ambulatory reads as follows:
“The Clerestory Window Above ‖ the Chapel of Saint Boniface ‖ is Dedicated ‖ to the Glory of God ‖ and ‖ in Loving Memory of ‖ Annie Allen Wallace ‖ February 14, 1853-August 25, 1890.”[28]
The Seven Angels with Trumpets (Rev. viii. 2) are the main subject of the window above the Chapel of St. Columba. Three of them are in the lower part of the middle light and two in each of the side lights. In the upper part of the middle light is the mighty angel of the cloud, overarched by the rainbow, standing upon the sea, and holding aloft in his left hand the little open book (x. 1, 2). In the upper part of the left side light is the angel with the seal of the living God (vii. 2) and in the right side light the angel with the golden censer (viii. 3). In the middle of the side lights are four angels (two left and two right) blowing the four winds of the earth (vii. 1). In the circular light at the top are the name “Pergamos” and a shield bearing the sharp two-edged sword of Him who sent the message to the church in Pergamos (ii. 12) between the Greek letters ΙΗϹ and ΧΡϹ (Jesus Christ.)[29] In the bottom border are the words: “From the seven ‖ Spirits which are before ‖ His throne.” A tablet in the Ambulatory reads as follows:
“The Clerestory Window Above the ‖ Chapel of Saint Columba‖ is Erected ‖ to the Glory of God ‖ and ‖ in Loving Memory ‖ of ‖ 1797 John Williams Leeds 1873 ‖ 1800 Eliza Leeds 1885 ‖ Emily Irene Hardenbergh 1899 ‖ By Their Daughter and Sister ‖ Josephine Eliza Leeds ‖A. D. 1915.”