Stained Glass Sunday - Tiffany, Downing et al.

I'm starting the Atlanta Stained Glass Appreciation Society. Architecture Tourists: are you with me? Is there already such group? Let me know.

A serendipitous blog connection (this post) took me to Atlanta's First Presbyterian Church yesterday. There I met two of Atlanta's stained glass mavens: Bobby Mays and Bill Lyons. And I met the glass. I'm acutely aware of my inability to photograph it. You'll have to visit for yourself.

Here is the latest window, installed in 1992.


Between the early and late services, Bill gave a presentation...


...in this moving space.


Bill's grandfather Dr. J Sprole Lyons was minister during the design and construction of the present church breaking ground in 1914. The windows were designed and most were installed under his direction with Tiffany, D'Ascenzo, and Willet; the first window in 1919 that latest in 1992.


Architect W. T. Downing designed the building. He did the Church of the Sacred Heart, Trinity Methodist, the Healey Building, Wimbish House. Mr. Downing was another Atlanta architect who died too young, at 53.

I was fascinated by the irregular quoins and the capitals, by the tile floor, and the acoustics for the roaring organ. I couldn't take it all in the 45 minutes and concentrated on the glass.


Each window is a story in itself. I'm leave the "tongues of fire" in this one for another day.


This is one of the 4 small "prophet" windows in the narthex.


The chapel window.


I don't have the words or pictures to match the space. Here is a little video panorama


Here are all my pictures.

Thanks to Bill Lyons for the opportunity to see this and to Bobby Mays for the opportunity to see more.