Saint Michael's Victory in Heaven by Louis Comfort Tiffany

I summarized information on the Tiffany windows from a pamphlet available in the narthex (entrance) of the church, “A Brief Tour and Description of St. Michael’s Church Interior and Windows,” by church Archivist Jean Ballard Terepka.

After completion of the building in 1891, Saint Michael’s rector, John Punnett Peters embarked on furnishing and decorating the church, turning to the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company for much of the work. On Christmas Day 1895, the Tiffany windows “Saint Michael’s Victory in Heaven” were dedicated.

Each of the windows is five by 25 feet. The seven panels depict the victor of Saint Micheal in heaven from Revelation 12:7-12 where Satin is expelled from heaven. Saint Michael “…the great archangel, stands on a globe among the clouds, is clothed in armor, and brandishes a sword in one hand. He bears a banner with a cross in the other hand, showing that he stands for Christ. The other archangels are Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Enogh, Barachiel, Jehudiel and Sealtahiel. They are surrounded by the angel hosts playing many musical instruments and singing praises to God. This window is considered the finest composition in American favrile glass,” and was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. As described by Terepka, favrile glass is an American invention from the late 19th century. In this process only the face and hands are painted. Everything else constructed of pieces of colored glass fitted into and over one another to give the proper colors, shades, and forms. Wikipedia describes it as follows: “Favrile glass is a type of iridescent art glass designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. It was patented in 1894 and first produced in 1896. It differs from most iridescent glasses because the color is ingrained in the glass itself, as well as having distinctive coloring. Favrile glass was used in Tiffany's stained-glass windows.”

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