When we design and create a window we are looking to achieve a relevance and connection for every person who walks through the doors of the church, and we strongly believed that we could achieve that for Our Lady of the Valley, Coldstream.
With the arrangement of construction of a new insert to the frame, allowing us to specify the positioning of the vertical divisions, we were able to create a design that would flow seamlessly between the sections and guide the eye around the window in such a way that the elements are always viewed as a whole image. It was very clear to us early on that Our Lady should be depicted in three quarter view with all the beauty of the local valley both emanating from and enfolding her. The vibrancy and natural beauty of the valley is depicted with the mountains, lake and vineyards. Local flora and fauna is depicted through the soaring bald eagle, the hardworking bee (symbolizing community), the fluttering butterfly (symbolizing resurrection and renewal), with Silky Lupine, Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Phlox that grow so prevalently in the area.
The use of hand made mouth blown glass from France, Germany and Poland provided the richness of colour onto which we created complex depth of tonal values, contrast of light and shade with a plethora of our own and traditional glass painting techniques, acid etching, silver staining, and kiln fired permanence.
“Psalm 84 recites: “how lovely is your dwelling place O Lord, mighty God.” For years many of our church families have wished for a beautiful, inspiring window above the altar for our Lord’s house. Fortunately John and Laura Gilroy of Gilroy Stained Glass Ltd of Vancouver B.C agreed to accept a commission to replace the original window with a new window featuring Our Lady and Her Valley here in Coldstream, B.C They not only succeeded but excelled in producing an exceptionally beautiful window and one which also has the effect of creating a transcendent sense of her tender invitation to every person to come into the ‘lovely dwelling place of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ’ to pray and worship Him. It was a pleasure working with John and Laura and we highly recommend their work.” ~ The Stained Glass Committee, Our Lady of the Valley, Coldstream.
