Trinity Episcopal Church Book Features 22 Stained Glass Windows, History

Parishioners Collaborate to Produce 78-Page Record of Windows, Donors

January 22, 2010
By: Dave Rogers

The fabulous stained glass windows of Trinity Episcopal Church now are documented for posterity.

Parishioners headed by Marshall Carter, editor, and Anne Trahan, photographer, have produced a 78 page volume printed mainly in color that is being made available to members of the community as well as church members.

Entitled simply "The Stained Glass Windows of Trinity Episcopal Church, Bay City, Michigan," the book tells the story of each of the 22 windows and the donors.

Therefore, it is a slice of Bay City history that is now preserved in print for later generations.

"Some people consider our building one of Michigan's finest examples of perpendicular Gothic architecture," wrote Diane Rapson Gabil, chair of the historical committee. "As the oldest public building in the Bay City Historical District, we are indeed one of the many focal points of the district."

The Children's Window, located above the altar, is described as "one of the glories of Trinity Church." The pot metal glass window hails from Cox Sons Buckley Company in London, England. "It is a perfect theme for Trinity Church, depicting worship in heaven from the Book of Revelation."

Parishioner Thomas Cranage, a member of the building committee, went to New York City to see a large window made for the Church of the Messiah. He commissioned a window of equal or better quality for $1,000 and is considered a beautiful example of the Pre-Raphaelites with vivid, bright colors, attention to detail and plant motifs.

It has been referred to a the Children's Window because it was paid for primarily by pennies saved by children of the parish. A "noisy collection" monthly recalls the tradition with Sunday school children passing buckets for coins.

The late Dr. Ben Pederson's gift of two windows is recounted in the book; not surprisingly the windows are in maize and blue, the colors of the University of Michigan where Dr. Ben played tackle on the football team and was a member of the 1951 Rose Bowl team.

In 1998 Village Glass Works of Auburn restored two windows on the north and south walls of the Grant Street entrance; those long and narrow windows are among photos in the book.

Charles and Nancy Moulthrop sponsored the restoration of an ornate window with decorative concrete medallions in the east tower above the entrance to the nave. It was restored in 2008 by Lovas Family Studios of Buffalo, Wisconsin.

Among windows documented are those in tribute to, or donated by, the following:

Meurig Lloyd Davies, general manager of the North American Chemical Co. (Alkalai Works), and his wife Lillian Simster Davies, in memory of their son Norman Napier Davies, who died at seven months of age in 1904;

Lt. John H. Syring, who died at age 23 after volunteering to replace a sick pilot on a mission just after the Korean War; this window is called "A Samaritan hath compassion," from Luke 10-25--37.

Ethel M. and C. Benjamin Hanson and Alma B. and Roland K. Mulholland are memorialized in another window by Willet Studios of Philadelphia, dedicated in 1972.

Julia Pitts Cranage, who died in 1918, was the daughter of Samuel Pitts, well-known Michigan capitalist; she and her husband Thomas were active in the improvement of social conditions. A nearby window in the east nave memorializes sugar manufacturer Thomas Cranage who was first president of the Bay City Public Library; both windows are by Heaton, Butler & Baynes, London.

Information for the book was compiled by Kerry Brown and Mr. Carter, glass historical data was gathered by Ed Benisz; historical committee members also included Gloria Davenport, Bob Hayhurst, Father Mike Herman, Taylor Langstaff, Chuck Leibrand, Gay McGee, Heather Moulthrop, Suzie Pederson, Bob Reif, Sharon Scharich, Chris Shannon and Pat Trahan.

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