David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

First United Methodist Church of Richardson, Texas – Part 2, the major Stained Glass Windows

I’ve prepared sets of many churches I’ve visited around the World for viewing at UHH, but had not done so for my own church (where I’m a member). I decided that it was time I did so. I have a large assortment of photos of the facility, so selecting just a few was difficult.

This is a new facility where construction began in 2001, after a decision by the membership to embark on a move to a larger facility located a short distance away. This was a chancy step since the economy was not robust at that time, but we desperately needed more space (particularly for parking!). I was a member of the Worship Committee (which had input to what the Sanctuary would be like) and the Organ Selection Committee (which recommended an organ builder and basic design). It was decided that the church complex could not be done in one build, but that there would be several phases in the construction; however, building the final Sanctuary as part of the first phase, including the pipe organ, was part of the plan. The 1300-seat Sanctuary was completed in 2006 and the first service there was 26 Mar 2006; installation of the organ, which had been built in Germany, began that June. Funding problems also dictated that the pipe organ be built in 2 phases, as well, and Phase 1 was completed in time for Christmas 2006. Phase 2, primarily the Gallery portion, was completed in 2010. Phase 2 of the complex build was begun in 2015 and completed in 2016. This provided a new Worship and Arts Center (a Great Room and a small theater, where the Contemporary services would also be held) and a big Music Suite with rehearsal facilities for the big music program at FUMCR.

Because it is a large complex, in keeping with my prior concentration on Sanctuary interiors, I will primarily be showing that portion of the complex here (and before Phase 2 build). The roof support in the Sanctuary was designed to give the impression of a cathedral; it involves intricate solid wood columns with branching tops—there are no nails or screws used in these supports, just steel plates as joiners (hidden) and 43,500 stainless steel pins connecting it all together.

There are 2 sets: Part 1 of the Sanctuary building exterior and interior, and Part 2 of the main stained glass windows (this set). There are 7 large round stained glass windows in the Sanctuary, each representing a Day of Creation (loosely interpreted). They were created by a studio in Blenham, Texas. I am presenting them in the order of the “days”—the first 6 are about 15 feet in diameter and the 7th is about 35 feet across. I confess that I’m not enthusiastic about these windows because I prefer pictorial ones. They are very lovely, however, and paint the interior with beautiful colors.

Day 1 -- Light and Darkness

Day 1 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Day 2 -- Separation of the Waters

Day 2 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Day 3 -- Plant Life and Vegetation

Day 3 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Day 4 -- Sun, Moon, and Stars

Day 4 by David Casteel, on Flickr (I purchased this window as a memorial to my parents and sister)

Day 5 – Birds and Sea Creatures

Day 5 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Day 6 – Humankind

Day 6 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Day 7 – the Sabbath Day

Day 7 by David Casteel, on Flickr (located behind the organ at the front of the Sanctuary)

There is a Day 8 – Eternity located in the Narthex, but I’ve not been able to photograph it due to structural details in the way. It is very similar to Day 7, with different colors.

Link to Part 1: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-686537-1.html#12017954

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

It was about time that you devoted your talents "back home", David.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Thanks, Mike! I do agree. My photos of our church were not done in the usual way I do churches I visit elsewhere, and organizing a set for that purpose from them was somewhat daunting. Most photos were either of the organ installations or during services (for church documentation) and not for showing off the place. It's also a very large place, as local churches go, with a lot of variety. For that reason I decided to concentrate on just the Sanctuary and its exterior and interior. There's a lot to see of the rest of the faclity, but 10 photos wouldn't begin to cover it adequately. (And I don't have a lot of documentation of the 2nd Phase build, for some reason.)

Regarding the Day 4 -- Sun, Moon, and Stars window. I had decided that I'd be one of the 8 window donors, but wasn't really "into" the designs. I chose the one with the most pictorial elements in it, and I relate them to my father, mother, and sister, in that order (maudlin, I know, but it works for me). It disturbs me that it is not fully visible to all the congregation because of that display screen. It also has a shade on the interior that can be used to cover it when they want to darken the Sanctuary, and the tech crew doesn't always leave the shade open after darkening it to prevent it interfering with the screen display. That shade (and the one on the oppossite window) needs to be open unless an active display is on the screen. I didn't pay for a window to be left covered up. (Rant off)

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Simply beautiful!

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Thanks a lot, Jay.

Sylvias Loc: North Yorkshire England

David these are all so very beautiful. Enjoyed reading the information about your Church too.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

Hi, Sylvias! Thank you so much! I do love our new church facility--it is now complete as to what was planned so many years ago. Our 6000 members really do enjoy it, and use it a lot daily. Many civic organizations also have meetings there, and we have a program supporting the city of Richardson. The Richardson Symphony Orchestra holds concerts in the Sanctuary when they need an organ, and smaller groups use the stage in the Worship and Arts Center from time to time (seats several hundred). The Sanctuary is awesome and the acoustics are great (about a 2-second reverberation time, and smooth--soft sounds can be heard even in the corners). We as a congregation are truly blessed, and the outlying area benefits, too. We are a "giving" church, the best in the area.

Edmund Deane Loc: Richardson, Texas

David - We have never met, but I am one of the several retired UMC pastors in the North Texas Conference, who has also found a place at FUMCR. I work as a volunteer with Frances Long in the FUMCR archives (room 206). I am delighted to have found your site with pictures of the stained glass windows; one of the Sunday School adult classes is studying our church's symbols and had asked for help from Archives. I did find a UMR story from Dec. 2005 about the background of the stained glass windows, but no pictures. I hope linking them to your page is OK. You are such a great photographer, I wonder if you would consider contributing a copy of some of your church pictures to our church's Archives, which would really enrich our present holdings in a visual way. If you would be interested in this, I invite you to contact Frances Long, our Church's Historian, (responsible for Archives) or me. The contact info is below. Thanks for all you do for FUMCR. Rev. Edmund Deane ebdeane@gmail.com
Frances Long, efrances3@verizon.net or franceslong619@gmail.com