Every corner in the cathedral has a story. The windows, the doors, the statues, and the instruments are all facets of Trinity’s story of faith and witness that has lasted not only generations, but centuries.
This summer, the medieval window near the baptistry returned to us after painstaking restoration by Whitney Stained Glass Studio. It’s one of three Trinity windows that date back to the medieval era, so perhaps we might call it the Costessey Window since that’s a part of its story.
Thanks to scholars and history buffs within our congregation, we know a few things about that window even as its whole story remains shrouded in mystery. Its last known location was a grand house in Costessey Park, Norwich, England, built in the 1820s. When the house was demolished at the beginning of last century, the window was recovered and purchased by Trinity in 1915, and it was installed a year later.
It has a rich story before that… but we don’t entirely know what that story is. Much of the glass in the window dates to the 14th century and was likely from the European continent. It is believed to have been relocated to England at some point and may well have been hidden during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.
Today it is a treasure that is ours to care for. This is what stewardship looks like in a cathedral: we not only care for the People of God, but we work to preserve the stories that bear a deeper witness of the faith.
If you look at the bottom of the window, you will see a story of Christian practice that is who we are today: images of study, prayer, and care for the poor. The story of faith and witness is literally in our walls!
This Sunday, August 16, we will gather for a special coffee hour after the 10:00 a.m. service to bless the window that has returned, to learn a bit about the process of restoration and the history of the window, and to give thanks for all the gifts that have made this possible.
I hope you’ll join us for this informal yet festive gathering to celebrate both our history and our ministry today!
Faithfully,
