Font Roundel
Phipps, Ball & Burnham 1920
7'2" x 29 1/2"
Ellen E. Filer
DESCRIPTION: The ruby roundel encircled with shades of blue and lavender contains a covered octagonal baptismal font. On one side of the font is a golden flagon; on the other side is a closed Bible or Gospel Book with the letters, IHS, on the cover.
SYMBOLISM: All the articles in this roundel pertain to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. The person baptized becomes a Christian, a child of God, an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. The IHS on the Bible is a monogram representing the Greek word for Jesus, derived from iota, eta, sigma, the first three letters of the Greek spelling for Jesus.
MEMORIAL: This window is a companion to Saint Luke Roundel (Window #26), both given in memory of Ellen E. Filer, presumably by her husband, Samuel, and daughter, Ellen Elizabeth. Young Ellen, "Bessie," married George Babcock on November 19, 1890. George owned a grocery store and served as mayor of Key West. Ellen Babcock lived for 87 years. She died in October 1955 and was buried by The Reverend John Armfield, rector of St. Paul's.
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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