What is the history behind the stained glass windows at First United Methodist Church of Oneonta?
In the Middle Ages when many persons could not read and Bibles were not available to the worshipers the great churches used stained glass window pictures to tell the Bible stories. The artist who planned the windows at First Church has included the life and ascension of Jesus with the prophecy of Isaiah and the ministry of St. Paul to bring to mind the whole sweep of the Judeo Christian tradition in which the Church was built. The grisaille or gray monochrome of the windows is strictly Gothic in character and lends to the wonderful lighted gray of the whole nave and chancel. In the chancel window we see Isaiah on the left prophesying “for unto us a child is born, unto us a song is given.” Isaiah 9:6. This is our tie with the Jewish foundation of the Christian faith. The risen, crowned Christ is in the center calling all who will to “Come unto me,” Matt. 11 :22. On the right is St. Paul proclaiming the word “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” Romans 1:16. Here is represented the whole his
