Fairlie Parish Church
Title: Baptism of Christ
Location: Fairlie Parich Church
Listing: Grade B Listed
Size: 3@ 580mm x 2440mm plus top tracery
Date of Installation: 2012
The theme of the windows is the baptism ofJesus by John the Baptist. The window is figurative and contains theimage of Jesus in a pool of water with John the Baptist at the momentof His baptism. The river Jordan and a landscape are the backdrop.There is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a small boat with a StAndrews Cross etched onto the sails.
Written Explanation
The central image is Jesus and John theBaptist at the point of his baptism. John is depicted as described inthe bible with camel hair clothes and a leather belt. Images of the river Jordan and its references have been studied to create the surrounding landscape backdrop. We can see the river and the hillside fall back into the sea and the small boat with the St Andrews sail.The church specifically wanted to have a reference of St Andrew andthe inclusion of the boat has a personal meaning to one of the mainbenefactors of the window. The banks of the river are filled with bulrushes, as is the foreground. The bulrush has been used as a symbol of faithfulness and humility in obedience to Christ because the bulrush is a common plant that grows in clusters near water. It also has association with the infant Moses in the Old Testament, and can point to a place of salvation.
The upper tracery contains the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. A cluster of clear lenses and jewels fill the top, symbolising purity of souls and rays of clear light span down upon the head of Christ. This moment of Baptist is watched by the angels, who took care of Jesus while he spent 40 days and 40 nights cast in the wilderness for temptation.The 2 angels closest to the Jesus are in pink/ red tones, symbolizing love. The upper angels are in pink / blue tones symbolizing the firmament.
Before
Window before
After
Top tracery details showing huge variety of colour
Fine painted detail in feathers and hair
St Andrews flag detail etched onto boat sails
Huge variety in glass colours, textures, leadlines and light diffusion
Leaded Bulrushes with etched detail on leaves and water
Full window lit from back and front
