The History of the Stained Glass Windows

The original windows of the church were Gothic stained glass. In 1925, the deteriorating windows were replaced with Florentine glass, later painted green in 1936 to remove glare. In 1950, the present stained glass windows were financed and dedicated as memorials to leading members of the congregation. Each member or family is named in the lower panel of each window.

The mystery window is in the wall behind the organ. Originally, this was simply a wall at the east end of the building with a large window. It is now covered on the outside by the education building and on the inside by shutters, plywood and building paper. We are not sure if it is from the original Gothic window design of 1886 or the Florentine windows of 1925. In either case, the window has not been functional since the installation of the organ in 1908.

The present stained glass windows were Installed In September of 1950 at the time J.D.F. Williams was pastor. Bishop William C. Martin dedicated the windows on November 12th on the observance of the centennial of the First Methodist Church in Belton. The symbolic design of the windows was drawn specifically for our church by Black Art Glass Company of San Antonio.

	The window with The Sheaf of Wheat meaning I am the Bread of Life was given by Mrs. R.R. Penn In memory of Dr. and Mrs. Taylor Hudson.
	The window with The Celtic Cross - a circle emblematic of everlasting life attained through the death of Christ - is in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Frank K. Austin by their daughters.
	The Descending Dove - the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon our Lord when He was baptized by John the Baptist - is in memory of J.W. Dice by Mrs. Dice and Wesley.
	The Lamb of God - symbolizes the Savior bearing a banner of victory on a cruciform staff - is in memory of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Cowan by their children.
	The Hand of God symbolizing the power of God the Father Almighty is In memory of Jack C.Keetch by Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Keetch.
	The window with the Latin Cross - faith, hope and love - is in memory of Mary and Coleman Eads by Mr. and Mrs. George C. Eads.
	The window with the I-H-S monogram - the first three letters in the Greek word for Jesus - is in memory of Dr. Jarrett Law by Ruth Mildred Schmieder.
	The window with the Open Bible - Christians are their own interpreters of Scripture - is in memory of F.B. Russell by Mrs. F.B. Russell.
	The window with the Cross and Crown - a reward for living a good life - is in memory of Dr. H.C. Ghent by their children.
	The window with the Budded Cross with Lillies - a symbol of resurrection - is in memory of 0. Lusk by Gladys Cline and Merle Whitlow.
	The Chalice - the Protestant administers the cup to the laity and clergy without distinction - is in memory of James E. Ramsey by Mr. and Mrs. A.T.Van Ness.

For a more extensive explanation of the meaning of the symbols in the windows above, please see the history of our kneeling cushions that were patterned after the windows.

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