Saint Paul on Mars Hill
Phipps, Ball & Burnham - 1920
In Memory of Bertha Curry Bott 1888 - 1919
DESCRIPTION: One of two windows featuring Saint Paul, the patron saint of St. Paul's Church, which appropriately flank the centerpiece of the church, Crucifixion, the great east window behind the High Altar.
The narrative window portrays Saint Paul preaching in Athens on Mars Hill. The bearded Paul is simply dressed in a light colored garment with a ruby cloak draped over his body. His right hand is extended upward and in the background is a Greek temple. Just below the ornate silver stain canopy, are the words: "Whom Therefore ye Ignorantly Worship." Three people are listening intently to Paul, two of whom are women. Of note in all the narrative windows by Phipps, Ball & Burnham are the size and gaze of the eyes of al the figures portrayed.
THE STORY: St. Paul on Mars Hill depicts Saint Paul during the course of his ministry, whereas the companion window, Saint Paul on the Damascus Road depicts Paul as Saul in his pre-Christian days. Once again, the placement of these windows is thoughtful as it was only following the Crucifixion and Resurrection that Paul converted to Christianity.
During the course of his ministry, Paul traveled thousands of miles by sea and land, establishing many congregations in Europe and Asia Minor. The Greek Temple in the background, symbolizing Athens, is a reference to his travels. As a result of his conversion to Christianity, he endured much: imprisonment, stoning, beatings and being shipwrecked. On his journeys he encountered dangers around every turn: in rivers, in the desert, in the cities and from highwaymen along the roads, none of which deterred him on his mission.
MEMORIAL: This window is in memory of Bertha Curry Bott, who was born in 1888 and died in 1919. She married Shirley Cristie Bott on January 19, 1904, with The Reverend William Curtis White, priest in charge of the (First) Holy Innocence Mission, performing the ceremony. Their daughter, Euphemia (Mary E). was born on April 5, 1905. The 1920 census, taken after the death of Bertha, documents that Shirley Bott was a real estate salesman living at 229 Caroline Street with his daughter, Euphemia, 15 at that time.
Source: The Golden Cockerel: The Art, Symbolism & History of the Stained Glass Windows, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Key West, Florida by Winifred Shine Fryzel.
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