Narthex Window

by Louis C. Tiffany of New York City

Often referred to as The Stewart Windows, these windows were given by parents John and Maria Stewart in 1886, in loving memory of their three children, all having died before the age of six.

Look UP to see a medallion window with lamb, originally positioned above the “Knights Templar” windows in the old church.

To the right of the altar are the Knights Templar Windows depicting the “Beausant” - the black and white flag, and the red Maltese Cross flag, both of which are symbols of the organization. The Solomon Bloom Window shows a cross with emanating light. Bloom was a friend of Grenville Dodge and lived in Council Bluffs for a time. The Bracket Window depicts an illuminated chalice. Ada Bracket died in 1885. In the old church, each of the Bracket and Bloom windows had a second, equally lovely, companion window.

Behind the altar are the five chancel windows. The left represents St. Paul, given in memory of Mr. George Hood, Boroughbridge, England, by his sister. The angel window (and the one to the right of the Madonna window) are copies of Fra Anjelica’s angels, this one presented by the young men and women of the parish. The central window is the Sistine Madonna, a full-length representation of Raphael’s celebrated painting. It was given by the Sunday school in memory of Lee Webb, son of the former rector of St. Paul’s church who died in 1861 at age six. The second angel window was presented by the friends of Thomas Green. The far right window contains the figure of the Good Shepherd, and is presented by the grandchildren of Sylvanus Dodge, the father of General Dodge, in his memory. The chancel windows, and many other windows in the church, were manufactured by McCully & Miles, of Chicago.

Look UP to see Rose Window, depicting three choirboys singing. This window was positioned above the entrance in the old stone church, behind what was originally designed as a choir loft.

You will find scattered throughout the church (on either side of the chapel doors, in the Rector’s office, in the sacristy, in the fellowship lounge) pieces and parts of windows from the old church that have been re-purposed to fit their new home.

To the left of the altar are the McCune Windows depicting a lantern with grape vines and banner reading, “For Thou art my lamp O Lord”, and a bouquet of lilies with a banner reading “And the Lord will lighten my darkness.” Dr. McKune (the window is misspelled) was shot and killed in 1883 by another doctor after a long-standing feud! The James Windows depict an open Bible surrounded by a vine, a staff with the tree of life encircled by a banner reading, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Charles James died in 1876 just shy of age 17. He was well loved and mourned by his friends.

Above the folding doors high on the north wall is the Rescue Hose Window. This is a small section of what was a pair of full-size windows in the old church. The windows were presented by the volunteer fire brigade Rescue Hose Company No. 3.