Goodfellow Air Force Base Chapel
San Angelo, Texas

Rear Nave Window (West): Light Triumphant
8’-0” diameter

Altar Window (East): Revelation
8’-0” diameter

German, French and Polish mouthblown glass, domestic rolled glasses, Austrian lead crystal bevels, lead and solder.

These windows both demand simple imagery due to their location nearly 24 feet above the floor.  As the only significant curved lines/shapes in the chapel’s interior, these two windows offer a symbolic glimpse out from man’s built-environment to a higher plane beyond.  The existing window mullions were  not emphasized in the new stained glass designs, allowing the full expanse of window to seemingly float freely just beyond the plane of the window.

Humanity’s search for God and God reaching out to Humanity

Due to strong west Texas sun in the afternoon, the West Window’s the palette is mostly darker glass. The lighter, brighter colors that stream down from above (or do they flow upward from below?), symbolize our striving toward God and God’s reassuring help and gifts from above. As one of the most perfect metaphors for spiritual growth or enlightenment, light symbolically conquers darkness as brighter, warm light pushes away the darker background colors.

The circularity that can be seen in the center of this window can also symbolize the contrast between the linear lives we often lead with the fuller experience we can have when we strive for spiritual perfection. More importantly, all faiths have an opportunity to find specific meaning in the flowing imagery that radiates downward.  White, opal red and amber glasses add interest to the window when seen during the day from outside or at night from the inside.  The lighter colors in the window’s center will be especially beautiful when clouds move across the sky.

Hovering above the focal point of worship in the chapel, the East Window very appropriately and dramatically reminds us that this is indeed Holy Ground.  Regardless of one’s religious expectations, the omniscience and omnipotence of God is reiterated in the stained glass.  As the warmer, brighter color descends to illuminate and push away the darkness below, its light radiates outward into our world.  The wafting ribbons and drapery-like banners can be seen as reminiscent of the unexpected twists and turns our lives all too often take. They also stand in subtle contrast to the West Window’s more circular design.  Here they curvilinear motion in the stained glass has transformed beyond the merely circular into the even more enlightened continuation of circles above circles – “spiral time”.  Again, the white and opal glasses are visible from the parade ground during the day (and from within the Chapel at night).

Click images for a larger view.