The Thomas Cranmer window was originally located in the Gospel transept or chapel in St. Mark’s, but was relocated in 1994 to the St. Mark’s Chapel.
This window was given by a group of donors:
To the Glory of God an in Loving Memory of: Jan Hus by Nancy Arnold; George Stewart Bennethum; Samuel T. Bledsoe and Talitha B. Bledsoe by Mr. and Mrs. Karl V. Bledsoe; James Q. Collins Jr by Nancy W. Collins; William Alfred Foyle by Jack and Margaret Cox; David Dwight Wilbur Ely; George Emerson Forrester by Robin Elaine Forrester; Captain Willis B. Hazleton by his wife and friends; Elsa B. Jahn by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Redlick; Dr. Daniel Marsh MacDonald by his wife and children; Mrs. Jeanette A. Quigley by Mrs. Betty Q. MacNeur; Mrs. William MacPhearson by Mr. and Mrs. August C. Rohrig and Mrs. W. Germain Vincent; Arthur R. Rule and Elizabeth W. Rule by Patricia Rule Stebbins; Roland Christian Williams by Miss Marian Williams; Eric Robertson Wise by Alfred and Suzanne Wise; Delbert F Rey, MD, Vestryman, Senior Warden, Physician and Friend to St. Mark’s Parish by The Rev. and Mrs. Leonard P. Whittlinger.
To the Glory of God and in Thanksgiving by:
Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Cunningham; Mr. and Mrs. Normal H. Davis Jr.; Mrs. Ernest E Dickson; Mr. and Mrs. M.D Eisele; Deanne and Jane French; Edward T. Hartnett; Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Hochscheid; Janet and Kathy Livingston; James and Barbara Newton; Norma L. Parish; Dr and Mrs. Owen C Peck; Mr. and Mrs. James G. Seebold; Mr. and Mrs. Philo D. Smith; Mr. and Mrs. M. Alvin Werfel; Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Wing
The Thomas Cranmer window designed by Cummings Studio, San Francisco and was part of a group of five windows that cost $7,877. It is 28” x 92”.
When the main sanctuary was constructed in 1956, there was an elaborate plan for stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary. Given as memorials, the windows were constructed and installed as funds were raised. By 1968, there were five planned windows left and Rev. Len Whittlinger was determined to finish the project.
In January of 1968, Rev. Whittlinger met with Cummings Studios. Cummings created every single one of St. Mark’s windows except one created in 1994 (a different story). When she met with Len Whittlinger in January, Vivian Cummings estimated the cost of the remaining windows would be $9,117.30. But she offered a special incentive – if St. Mark’s ordered all five windows at one time, there would be significant cost savings. If a contract was signed by April 1st, Cummings would make the remaining five windows for $7,877.
Determined to take advantage of this offer, Rev. Whittlinger started fund raising.
On March 12th, 1968, he sent a letter to all parishioners he thought might be interested in contributing. He hoped for individual donors, but offered:
“It might be that there are individuals who might be able to purchase a window individually, but who would like to join with others in that same situation to purchase one together.”
On March 20th, Cummings Studio visited and made a presentation about the proposed windows to the Vestry. By March 26th, 1968, with four days left before he had to sign the contract, Whittlinger sent an additional letter that confirmed he had two persons committed to giving entire windows, was hoping for two more to do the same, and was collecting smaller donations to fund one group window which, he noted, “will be identified by a plaque indicating from whom it is a memorial as well as all the donors.”
By April 1st, the contract was signed. It’s not clear if all the funding was in place by April 1st, but four windows were given as memorials by individual donors and one was funded by a group.
The “group” window was planned for the Gospel side chapel or transept of the church. In January of 1968, it was referred to as the John Wycliff window. It was still the Wycliff window on April 1st. By April 10th, 1968, it had been changed to the Thomas Cranmer window. The story behind the reason for this change is lost.
By June of 1968, the church had received Poloroids of the sketches for the Cranmer window generally. St. Mark’s was generally happy with the design, except that Rev. Whittlinger requested the color of Cranmer’s robe to be black. Cummings explained:
“In stained glass, black as a color does not exist. There is no translucency in it, and it is not suitable for traditional work. Through the centuries the black of ecclesiastical robes has been interpreted in glass as dark color: dark blue, maroon, brown, and smoke tones. In this instance we suggest dark browns so the flames at the base of the window can modulate into the browns, and, on the other hand, contrast beautifully with the white puffy sleeves.”
All five windows, including the Thomas Cranmer stained glass, were completed and installed in September of 1968 and dedicated on September 27th, 1968. In a letter from Cummings, the glass studio said:
“It is a great accomplishment for you to complete the window program in your church. It was 21 years ago that my father first made windows for St. Mark’s. We are proud to have created this series…we trust you will always find meaning in this art form and that your congregation grows from this expression.”
The Cranmer window was relocated during the 1994 remodel of the Gospel transept and is now located to the right of the altar in St. Mark’s Chapel.
