How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place (Psalm 84:2)
A short history of the stained glass windows of Emmanuel Catholic Church in Dayton, Ohio
by Deacon Rusty Baldwin
May 2026
It seems fitting to begin this short history of the stained glass windows of Emmanuel with the words from a brochure about them published by Emmanuel Catholic Church in 1997. In that brochure is a brief account of the art of making stained glass. It is not known when stained glass windows first appeared in churches.
“They probably evolved from the use of mosaics and enamel work to decorate early Christian Churches. When the Gothic style of architecture came about, stained glass became more popular. Gothic window openings needed a structure strong enough to keep out the weather, but transparent enough to admit light. As glass at that time was to be had only in small pieces, the craftsmen had to use mosaic, a combination of pieces of glass of various size[s] and colors, to make a design by placing them in juxtaposition. They had to be held together, and the best medium was lead, applied in strips. As a craft, the process of making stained glass has not changed throughout the centuries. Stained glass as a medium depends entirely on natural light. Therefore, the artist depends not only on the glass, but also the effect of the light. Since many people in medieval times could not read, the art work was necessary as a means of instruction.”
With that as the briefest of introductions, if you are able to come to Emmanuel to meditate and pray before each one of the sacred works of art that are our stained glass windows, I would encourage you to do so; it’s well worth it. For they magnificently mark
out in holy images the unfolding of Salvation History throughout the liturgical year…