Description

The Stained Glass of St. Paul's visually explores the meaning and heritage preserved in the stunning stained-glass windows of a historic Chattanooga church. Created to memorialize loved ones and highlight timeless truths from the Bible, these windows collectively tell a much larger story addressing some of our deepest questions about life and death, joy and suffering, God and humanity.

Built in 1888, St. Paul's Episcopal Church displays 28 works of 19th and 20th century stained-glass art. St. Paul's collection, spanning over 100 years, preserves the memories of some of Chattanooga's earliest citizens, such as Judge Hugh Whiteside, Chattanooga's first native-born mayor; Sarah Key Patten, a Southern matriarch whose love for nature helped to birth Chattanooga as an outdoor destination; and "Little Miss Mag" Andrews, whose tragic death inspired a cherished downtown childcare center.

This carefully researched text, begun by the late Jasper A. Reynolds Jr., and completed by his son Jasper III, invites readers into the meaning of each window: its artistic style, biblical symbolism, and connection to local families and history. Illustrated with luminous photographs by Ed Barels, The Stained Glass of St. Paul's highlights a spiritually impactful piece of southern American decorative arts.