The Christ Window
The stained glass Christ
Window was created circa 1906, for the First Methodist Episcopal Church
of San Diego’s new building located at Ninth and C Street in downtown
San Diego. Famed San Diego architect Irving Gill designed the structure,
with a sanctuary that could seat 1500 people, which was dedicated on May
5, 1907.Mrs. Joseph Reisner presented the Christ Window to the church in
memory of her husband. It is thought that the Judson Studios of Los
Angeles, California created the window.
view enlarged photo
The Christ Window was
enlarged by the Judson Studios and moved from the south wall of the
sanctuary to the new Georgia Lynch Memorial Chapel, which was completed
in 1950, utilizing the former patio area on the C Street side of the
church. Four new stained glass windows were commissioned for the chapel.
They were moved to Mission Valley and were restored in 1983: three of
the windows may now be found over the lower entrance to the sanctuary
and the fourth window is located in the reception area of the church
offices.
When the church moved to
Mission Valley in 1964, the Christ Window was stored in the basement of
the new sanctuary. Forty years later, Pat Warren, a stained glass
specialist of Point Loma, has restored the historic stained glass window
to its original beauty. Church member, Kurth Barnes, designed and
constructed the
oak frame and cabinet, which contains the window and
provides light to illuminate the stained glass.
The funds to restore the
window came in part from gifts given in memory of Paul and Lori Pinnell
and the general fund of the Memorials Committee. The oak frame and
cabinet are a gift of Dottie and Lucille Veal in memory of their
parents. The Chain Gang, under the leadership of Lawson Cooke, provided
their services throughout the entire project. Robert Newsom, Chairman of
the Board of Trustees, along with the Trustees of First Church gave
their approval and provided much assistance.
The beautiful Christ Window
represents a bridge between the three centuries of our historic 136
year-old church. Several of the people who were inspired by the window in
1907 were original members of the church, which was founded May 12,
1869.For 57 years, the window downtown provided a visual representation
of Christ’s love with His invitation..."COME UNTO ME." Now this art, in
the form of stained glass, will welcome worshipers entering the lower
level of the sanctuary in the 21st century. The members of the Memorials
Committee appreciate all of the gifts which made this project possible.
The First United Methodist
Church of San Diego treasures its history by incorporating artifacts
from its past into its present location in Mission Valley. The corner
stone (1907) from the Ninth and C Street church, the great granite cross
(1907) found over the main entrance of the downtown church and now
located in front of the present sanctuary, the 1928 Pipe Organ,
completely rebuilt and quadrupled in size and now known as the
Blackinton Pipe Organ, the bells of the Hartupee Chimes (1908) ringing
each Sunday for worship and throughout the week, and finally now the
last of the stained glass windows from the downtown church, restored and
in place in Mission Valley.
Discovery and Restoration of the
Christ Window
Richard H. Peerson,
Chairman, Memorials Committee
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