Church Art and Architecture

McKim Tower and Chime (A):  The first tower of this church was comprised of four tiers, contained a bell, and was topped by a gilt cross.  A hurricane 40 years later helped reduce the tower to two tiers.  The current structure became a memorial to seventh rector Randolph McKim in 1922.  McKim served the parish for 32 years and worked tirelessly to anchor Epiphany to its downtown location.  Built of brick and stucco, the tower was designed by Frederick H. Brooke of this city.  Contained within is a chime of 15 bells, cast by the Meneely Bell Foundry of Watervliet (West Troy), New York.  In addition to chiming the hour, the bells have marked national events, including the inauguration of every president since Calvin Coolidge.  The largest bell, weighing 4,300 pounds and measuring five feet in diameter, is inscribed “Glory to God In the Highest and on Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men.” 

Narthex Windows (B):  The four windows in the rear of the church dividing the nave from the narthex are examples of engraved plate glass.  This medium eliminates the problem of lighting an inside window and allows the story to be viewed from both sides.  The windows to the west of the center doorway are Old Testament stories of Moses, Solomon, and David.  On the opposite side are New Testament stories of the Nativity, Epiphany, and Miracles of Christ.  The windows were installed over a 20-year period beginning in 1957.  The inner windows are the work of Rowan and Irene LeCompte; the outer ones are by Rodney Winfield.  Both the LeCompetes and Mr. Winfield are well known for their stained glass works at Washington National Cathedral. 

Nave Windows (C):  The similarly styled northern windows were in place for Easter Day 1890.  They were designed and manufactured by Messrs. Edmondson of Manchester, England.  On the west is depicted Christ as the Good Shepherd and the True Light from St. John’s Gospel.  On the east is the Sermon on the Mount from St. Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus “taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”  This latter window is a memorial to sixth rector Samuel Giesy and his daughter Anna, both of whom died of pneumonia.  The middle window on the west side, dedicated in 1910, is easily identified as the work of the Tiffany Studios of New York.  A beautiful view of paradise is displayed with the left panel showing dawn and the right panel dusk, times when the soul is closest to its Creator.  The remaining three windows are all the work of the D’Ascenzo Studios of Philadelphia.  Installed in the 1930’s, the two eastern windows depict the four evangelists; the western window features Old Testament prophets.

Clerestory Windows (D):  An 1874 renovation of the church replaced the original roof with a loftier one and increased light and ventilation through the addition of six dormer windows.  Just over 100 years later, these upper level, or clerestory, windows were filled with stained glass.  The theme is the story of creation as told in Genesis.  From the rear of the church to the front on the east side is the creation of light, water and air, and land.  From front to rear on the west side is the creation of sun and moon, animals, and lastly humankind.  The windows are by Rodney Winfield of St. Louis, Missouri and were dedicated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany, 1979.

Phillips Chapel (E):  The 1857 enlargement brought the transepts on the east and west sides.  These wings were identical and used fro seating until it was decided to memorialize ninth rector ZeBarney Phillips with the creation of a chapel in the west transept.  While at Epiphany, Phillips also served as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate and President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church for five terms.  The windows of the chapel, designed by Henry Lee Willet of Philadelphia, portray three outstanding aspects of Dr. Phillips’ life, from left to right:  study and preparation for his life’s work, his preaching, and his love of poetry and music.  Phillips Chapel was dedicated February 11, 1945. 

East Transept Windows (F):  The earliest windows still in existence in the church date to 1874, the work of Alphonse Freiderick & Brothers of Brooklyn.  Examples would be the non-figured rose windows of the transepts and the window tops visible above the balconies.  The three windows under the east balcony illustrate the Last Judgment as told in Matthew 25:31-40, “as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.”  Dedicated in 1949, they are the work of Henry Lee Willet and are dedicated to the memory of Isabel Freeman and Margaret Coleman Buckingham.  To the south is a window depicting Luke 7:22, “the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dead are raised.”  The work is a memorial to Dr. Aurelius Shands and his wife Agnes and is signed by the artists, Rowan and Irene LeCompte, Washington, 1958.

Crossing (G):  In 1844, this area was the sanctuary, separated from the pews by a semi-circular bronze railing.  Later, as the chancel was added to the north, this space was filled with pews.  In 1968, the use came full circle with it being returned to a sanctuary.  Needlepoint cushions surrounding the communion rail, worked by parishioners, feature Eucharistic symbols of wheat and grapes.  The brass pulpit is a memorial to twelfth rector Charles Kean.

Baptistry (H):  The new chancel arches of the 1892 renovation completely changed the proportions of the church.  A baptistery was created in the northwest corner of the nave.  The font had been a gift to the church in 1858 by Mrs. Louisa Harrison Coffin, the same woman who gave the two lots upon which the church was built.  The mosaic floor features water creatures and three canvas panels above depict the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple, his baptism in the Jordan, and the blessing of the children.

Organ (I):  The current instrument, the fifth to serve the parish, dates to 1968.  It was given in memory of Adolf Torovsky, organist-choirmaster here for nearly 50 years.  Numbered Opus 1485, it is one of the last works of the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston.  The antiphonal trompette-en-chamade in the rear south gallery was added in 1978 and is a memorial to Mr. Torovsky’s successor, Garnell Copeland.  Other modifications have brought the instrument to its current size of 64 ranks, 62 stops and 3,467 pipes. 

Chancel (J):  Two significant additions of the 1892 renovation period were the altar reredos and the window.  The former is carved of Indiana limestone and depicts the Last Supper.  It is the work of American sculptor William Ordway Partridge.  Above the reredos is the great Epiphany window which replaced an earlier 1874 version, a memorial to the first rector, John French, which was relocated to the south wall.  The window is the work of noted English stained glass artist Henry Holiday and was installed in 1891.  From the bottom center, David and Isaiah foretell the coming Messiah.  To the right, an angel appearing to Jewish shepherds proclaims, “I bring you good tidings of great joy.”  To the left, three wise men are captioned, “We have seen His star in the East.”  The identical characters are repeated in larger form above as they pay homage to the Christ Child.  Thus the message of Epiphany is the manifestation that Christ comes as Savior for the whole world.