Words + Images

detail from rice memorial window “christ the light of the world”

As you travel along Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, just outside of Porter Square, you will find St. James’s Episcopal Church, a beautiful stone structure designed by Henry Martyn Congdon in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. While the church was founded in 1864, the cornerstone of the particular building in which I peered today was laid in 1888.  Inside is quite a variety of stained and painted glass (and a bell re-cast by Paul Revere!).

While I visited at the wrong time of day and time of year for the best effect, the opalescent windows along the west wall still caught my attention. I visited in early morning in spring but for the windows to be seen as their designers — John La Farge and possibly Tiffany — intended, I will need to visit again in winter in the late afternoon just before sunset.

detail from “jesus the good shepherd” by john la farge

I’ve already marked my calendar. 🙂

detail from the batchelder-dexter window, “the mission of the seventy”

I’m still sorting through pictures and their stories. More to come from my delightful visit. Meanwhile you can learn more about the church, its people and the history of the building here: http://www.stjames-cambridge.org/