TERRE HAUTE —
The members of Terre Haute’s Central Presbyterian Church celebrated three new stained-glass windows Sunday, dedicated to the memory of one of their own.
The windows are now the first thing you notice when you walk into the children’s preschool Sunday School room in the lower level of the church at 125 N. Seventh St. downtown. The windows, which look out onto Larry Bird Avenue, illustrate Bible stories but also show modern-day children standing with Jesus Christ.
“We modeled all of these [windows] after children’s literature that is used here,” said Dave Rosen, owner of Artisan’s Art Glass, who created the windows in collaboration with several church members and with Susie Dewey, who donated the windows to the church.
Dewey, a retired English teacher in the Vigo County schools, donated the windows in honor of Ruth Erickson, a member of Central Presbyterian who passed away last year. Erickson, who worked as an elementary school librarian after raising her sons, had a fondness for children’s literature. The windows reflect that through their illustrations, which are taken from children’s books.
“She would have loved it,” Dewey said of her friend. “This church meant a lot to her.”
Erickson was active in the Audubon Society and the windows also feature illustrations of colorful birds.
The windows also feature a verse from an 1885 hymn written especially for Sunday School students by William H. Parker. The hymn reads:
“Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear; Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here; Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.”
The windows show the miraculous catch of fishes written of in the Bible. They also show a scene of children following Jesus entering Jerusalem.
“The kids loved the windows,” said Sandy Mead, a member of the church who teaches in the preschool. “They are far out!”
Dewey said she wanted to donate the windows to the memory of her friend of more than 70 years because the windows will last, allowing Erickson to be long remembered.
“I wanted it to be something that would stay and the church has staying power,” Dewey said.
Large portions of the windows are relatively clear, allowing a lot of light into the preschool. That also allows the view through the windows to change over the years, Rosen said.
“The idea was to bring this into the present and as the present changes, so do the windows,” he said.
Erickson often worked behind the scenes, but was always active and had many interesting adventures in her life, fellow members of the church recalled.
“She was a world traveler,” recalled Eileen Whalen, a member of the church. “It was always so neat to sit next to her and talk with her.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Dedication: Amanda Davis points to a poster of the new stained glass windows during a dedication ceremony at the Central Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning. Members of the children's choir observe the event.
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Awe: Members of the Central Presbyterian Church children's choir react to the dedication of the stained glass windows during Sunday's service.
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Children's: This photo shows the detail in the newly installed stained-glass windows at the Central Presbyterian Church.
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Exterior view: Newly installed stained-glass windows on the north side of the Central Presbyterian Church.
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Children's windows: Newly installed stained-glass windows in the children's area of the Central Presbyterian Church.
Discussion
Gift to church to have a Lasting Presence
Stained-glass windows donated in honor of church member
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