Rose Window
At the opposite end of the Chapel over the gallery is the Rose Window, which likewise is a product from the Cummings Studio in San Francisco and came to us from the trustees of the Temple Methodist Church. It expresses symbolically the Life of Christ. Beginning with the lowest rosette, the descending dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit hovering over Mary the mother of Jesus at the moment of her conception. Moving clockwise, the five-pointed Star of Bethlehem recalls the Epiphany of Jesus to the wise men from the East, and subsequently to all nations beyond Israel.
The next rosette portrays the figures of an open book, the Bible, the Word of God, which Jesus is and which he preached. At the top, the figure of the sun encircling the Greek abbreviation for Jesus’ name (IHC) recalls his title as the Sun of Righteousness. To the right, the chalice recalls his last Passover meal with his disciples, and the sacrament of the Eucharist that he instituted there.
In the last rosette, the crown of thorns symbolizes his passion, and the abbreviation, INRI, recalls the legend that Pilate commanded to be placed over his head on the cross: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorim, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
The whole story, beginning with the Holy Spirit depicted by the Descending Dove; through the manifestation as seen in the five-pointed star; with the open book symbolizing the Bible; the Sun of Righteousness with IHC at the top indicating the Lord's Supper; and finally the Crown of Thorns indicating the Crucifixion; all in symbolic language portray the life of Christ on earth. The whole is tied together with the beautiful central roset of the Cross and the Crown, indicating the Kingdom of God.