Year of the Child
Name of Building: Newton Mearns Church
Location: Newton Mearns
Size: 1236mm x 1989mm
Date of Installation: 2002
Children have a very strong presence within Newton Mearns Church. So it was appropriate that the window was dedicated to mark the end of 2002, Year of the Child. The window is situated on the sidewall towards the liturgical east end of the building. The neighbouring light is clear. The window has been designed in such a way as to echo the symmetry of the building as a whole.
The window shows children of varying ages and nationalities, with their feet on the ground and the world of the future in their hands. It is in a world in which the cross of Jesus shines. The living water, flows out of the base of the picture-world into the real world. The code symbol of the fish, is a reminder of early Christian worship in the catacombs, and of the fact that that some people have to worship in secret today. It also confirms the responsibility given to each generation to pass on the Good News of the Gospel to the next one, so that they can worship God too.
The symbols of nature, expressed as earth, air, the fire of the sun and water, re-affirm the wonder of creation, and the importance of the nurture and growth of young people in the created environment.
As part of the exploration of the concept of spiritual nature, the children of Newton Mearns Church were invited to contribute thoughts and ideas to the design. They contributed words such as love, happy and faith.
These thoughts have been combined with the description of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 V 22; love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control (Revised English Bible translation). After discussions with the church we choose the most appropriate words and incorporated them into the frame of the design. The chosen words were happiness, gentleness, faithfulness, peace, love, patience excellence, kindness and self-control.
The window was made using mouth blown French glass and incorporates clear lenses for added effect. This flashed glass is made up of one thin layer of colour that is fused onto a sheet of clear glass. The cross, fish and children have been sandblasted into the glass to create a more solid effect. Where the two small children cross into the water, the figures have been acid-etched to create a 3-dimensional aspect. The children, cross and fish are also clearly visible at night. The stars in the night sky and the lettering have been acid-etched into the glass. The blue border was etched using a combination of acid and dried split peas to create texture add a new dimension to the glass
To celebrate 2002 as the "Year of the Child"
Watercolour design
Installed window showing natural light
