Windows

In 1978, the people of St. Mark's embarked on a campaign to install stained glass windows.  Christopher Wallis, then of London, Ontario, one of the world's foremost artists of stained glass, was engaged to design and execute the windows.  To retain as much light as possible, all the windows are transparent; no parts are opaque.

This information was compiled from a tape recording in 1980 by Canon John Munro, Rector, who advised the artist while the windows were being designed.  On the north side, starting at the back:

Nativity of Christ

This lovely window shows Mary and Joseph looking in rapture at the new born Jesus.  The Star of Bethlehem is shining above them and from it the radiance embraces the mother, child and stepfather.  The colours used tell a story - red to show the ultimate sacrifce of our Lord; gold to show His kingship; the pastels and dark colours make us wonder at the mystery of Christ's birth.

Baptism of Christ

Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist who felt he was not worthy to baptize Jesus.  However, he did so as Jesus wanted John to baptize Him.  The dove at the top left is descending to indicate the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is in white, to show His purity.  After the baptism, Jesus started His ministry by preaching in Capernium.

Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me

Jesus emphasizes children so often in His ministry.  The quiet faith of a child can really give us a true idea of what it is to belong to Jesus.  A child has trust, follows instructions, and can show great love.  So often He uses a child as a symbol of an unspoiled person who hasn't been affected by the world.  Jesus is shown with a girl and a boy before a door-like frame- indicating the beginning of our life with Christ.

Calming of the Storm

Until 2001, the 4th. window on the North side was Ascension of Our Lord.  In 1999 when the nave was enlarged and a new chancel was added, a previously hidden window was exposed.  To keep Jesus' life on Earth in sequence and to maintain the Ascension window closest to the chancel area, it was moved one window east.  Fortunately, even after 23 years from when the original windows were installed, Christopher Wallis was able to execute a new window, therefore keeping all our stained glass windows designed and created by the same artist.

This window, our newest, shows the miracle of Jesus calming the storm - a divine capacity often celebrated in the Psalms.  "Peace Be still!" Jesus' words often bring comfort in our lives.  God is always present in the midst of chaos.  The disciples show their awe and wonder "Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Ascension of our Lord

This very powerful window shows Christ ascending.  His rich garment is adorned with 12 jewels indicating the 12 tribes of Israel or the 12 apostles.  By ascending to His Father in heaven, Christ was no longer a geographical pinpoint on Earth, so people could not revere the fragments of His body as in so many other religions.  We realize it is up to us to carry on His ministry - Christ is in us and we are in Him.  We are the instruments of His grace and mission to the world.

Lamb of God

At the top, we see the hand of God blessing us all.  The lamb is standing with one foot around the banner of victory, suggesting the victorious nature of Christ's sacrifice.  Behind the Lamb is the Star of David, reminding us of our heritage from Judaism.  The star is two interwoven equilateral triangles which form a six pointed star, traditionally the shape of David's shield.  Sometimes called the Creator's Star, the six points recall the 6 days of creation.  At the bottom, the Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, reminding us that Christ is the beginning and the end of all things.

Scouting and Guiding

This is a very unique window as the boys and girls of the Scouting and Guiding movement asked if they could present a window.  Even though it was the most expensive one, due to the many pieces of glass and the research needed to portray the symbols, the young people raised the needed funds in three months' time.  Around the well-known profiles of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell are 400 small pieces of blue glass, showing that Scouting and Guiding have grown to be world-wide movements.  The Scout-Guide promise encircles the globe.  To the left is the Union Jack, to the right the Ontario ensign and in the centre is the Canadian flag, with two hands joining below it.  Scattered throughout the window are the original symbols and dates to show when different sections of Scouts and Guides originated - both in Canada and in Great Britain.

St. Mark

The most outstanding feature of the nave is the St. Mark window.  In the shape of an elongated triangle with an inverted triangle beneath it, it rises to the ceiling and extends to nearly the floor.  The larger-than-life figure of St. Mark, in the centre, holds a cross in his right hand and a representation of our church building in the crook of his left arm.  At the very top of the window are very dark reds, blues and mauves.  If we look closely, we see the eye of God which gives a sense of creation and the words of Genesis come to mind "in the beginning...darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."  Below is the dove descending with radiance from his beak - from this radiance is a small darker line, indicating the movement of the Holy Spirit on life, that comes down behind St. Mark to nearly embrace him, then it becomes a pathway, then water.  The water is very significant for St. Mark as though very young, he was most eager to go with St. Paul and St. Barnabas on their first mission around the Adriatic.  The water is important, too, for the water of Baptism, as until the church was enlarged in 1999, the font was immediately in front of this window.  At his feet is an etching of the original church building, and opposite is the coat of arms for the Diocese of Huron - the crossed swords of St. Paul (our cathedral church in London), the crown to signify victory and sovereignty, a beaver, such a familiar Canadian symbol, all in a banner which is crowned by a bishop's mitre, to represent the cloven tongues of fire which lighted on the heads of the apostles at Pentecost.  The lower part of the window has a round bell showing St. Mark in Rome to record the gospel of St. Peter.  To their left are the crossed swords of St. Paul who told us to "put on the armour of God" and who died by the sword.  To their right, St. Barnabas is symbolized by three stones as he was stoned to death.  Above, St. Peter's symbol of the crossed keys recall his confession and our Lord's gift to him of the "keys of the kingdom".  Beneath the bell is St. Mark's winged creature with a lion's face - the body in gold and the wings in red, as St. Mark's gospel begins with "...the voice of one crying in the wilderness" and this suggests the roar of the lion.

This window was a gift from Pauline Sevier.