Stained Glass

The Hughes Auditorium Stained Glass Windows

The stained glass windows and skylights in Hughes Memorial Auditorium on the campus of Asbury University were gifts of the Class of 1929 at a total cost of $1,600. In two issues of The Asbury Collegian in May of 1953, Marilyn Thompson (Class of 1955) explained the meaning behind the symbolism in the designs. There are six windows with pictures and six without pictures.

The windows without pictures are more than mere fillers. The squares at the bottom of the window symbolize man. The circles inside the squares represent eternity, signifying that there is eternity within man. The columns at the sides represent strength. The acorn motif across the top represents the seed between life and death, bringing to mind the verse, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). The shell in the center of the window represents witnesses going forth with the good news of salvation, and the fruited laurel represents victory which also has fruit.

The smaller, arched windows in the balcony are extensions of those downstairs. The Rose of Sharon Cross seen in the keystone of the arch represents Christ, the Redeemer, taking preeminence over all-the keystone, the most essential piece of the arch.

Lavetta Serrott (Class of 1946), who taught Christian Education at the college, suggested that the message of the window as a whole might be, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

The stained glass skylights also have meaning. The fleur-de-lis motifs symbolize the divine trinity, bound together to symbolize the unity of one God. At the center of each wreath is a Rose of Sharon, representing Christ. The fleur-de-lis, wreaths, and Roses of Sharon are tied together to represent man and the divine trinity united in eternity with Christ at the center. At the sides of the large wreath, there are open books representing the Word of God and the books out of which man will be judged. The flowers next to the books represent the Rose of Sharon.

The Stained Glass Pictures:

Jesus in the Synagogue	The Good Shepherd	Christ on the Cross
The Empty Tomb	Christ Knocking	The Ascension