Holy Trinity Roundel
Phipps, Ball &Burnham 1920
7'2" x 29 1/2"
Edith Shackleford Born 1879 Died 1898 James A. Shackleford Born 1883 Died 1919
DESCRIPTION: The roundel bearing the Shield of the Trinity is red, bordered in shades of blue. The shield is gold, with inner and outer circles of white. The inscription is in Latin.
SYMBOLISM: The Shield of the Trinity is an interesting and expressive design. It is a joy to beginning Latin students, and a favorite stained glass design of the medieval church. The shield contains
groups of statements indicating positive statements of what each member of the Godhead is, and the others of what they are not.
The center circle contains the word "Deus," the Latin word for God. The three outer circles contain the words, "Pater," or Father, "Filius," or Son, and "Sanctus Spiritus," or Holy Spirit. In the bands connecting the center circle to the outer circle is the Latin word "est", or is. To read the symbol properly, begin in the center circle and go out each band to the connecting outer circle: "God is Father," "God is Son," and "God is Holy Spirit."
The outer circle is connected by bands with the Latin phrase "non est," or is not. By connecting the outer circles with the outer band we read: "The Father is not the Son," "The Son is not the Holy Spirit," and "The Holy Spirit is not the Father."
The meaning of this exercise explains the doctrine of the Trinity which holds that God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; however, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are separate from each other.
MEMORIAL: Edith Shackleford was born in Key West on May 8, 1879, and was baptized at St. Paul's.
Her parents were James R. and Henrietta Shackleford, remembered in the Saint John Roundel (Window #9). She had a number of sisters, and a brother, James. Little is known about James except his birth. According to the information on the window, he died in 1919.
The window was probably given by the remaining members of the family: Mrs. George R. English, whose husband was a porter at a local hotel, Lucille Shackleford and Genevieve Shackleford.
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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