The Windows of First Lutheran Church

The present church edifice of First Lutheran Church, Albany, NY, was dedicated in September 1954. The Friendship House, our parish hall and auditorium on the State Street side of the property, was used for worship during the 25 years beginning in June 1929 when the congregation first moved to this site from downtown.

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The windows in the nave were created by the Payne Studios of Paterson, New Jersey, who also have branches in London, England and in Chartres, France. Their artist who designed the work for us was Pere A. Bergethon. Mr. George L. Payne, head of the studios, states that the windows would be described as Georgian in type, adapted from that architectural period in England and the Colonies. The main background of the windows are in lightly colored tints of glass on the light green side. The subject matter is applied to each individual piece through the process of stained-glass staining. The windows are, therefore, panes of glass set in the wood bars of the window sashes. There are no leads in this kind of work.

The backgrounds surrounding the pictures is known as a grisaille pattern formed of flowing leaf work with occasional gold stain applied through the leaf pattern. And the combination of this staining gives an effect of tapestry to the windows, appropriate for their Georgian light-colored interior. This is in contrast to the full red and blue colorings of the Gothic style of church work.

The descriptions of the windows in the nave of the church were prepared by E. Kristen Frederick and Henry H. Heins.