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Symbolism in Bronze
One of the artistic treasures of our church is
now displayed for everyone to see. As you climb the stairs to the
Upper Narthex, you will see twenty chased bronze medallions. The
medallions were created by Eleanor Nichols, a noted silversmith
and long time member of St. Mark's. ("The
Artist and The Medallions").
The twenty bronze medallions were originally placed in the panels
of front doors of the church building in the 1950s. They were saved
from the fire, and replaced on the front doors after the fire. Unfortunately,
after rebuilding from the fire, most people entered the church directly
from the parking lot into the Narthex and did not see the medallions.
The medallions started to weather. They were brought into the entry
of the Narthex about 1990. Even there, the medallions were often
hidden by the open doors. The creation of the Upper Narthex gave
them a place where they can be seen and enjoyed by all.
The Meaning of the Symbols
The twenty bronze medallions are symbols of the
four Gospels. Their arrangement in columns and rows is significant
of their interrelated message. (Key
to the Medallions)
- The top row introduces the four evangelists: Mark,
Matthew, Luke and John. The column under each depicts teachings
symbolic of each Gospel writer.
- The second row represents each evangelist's unique
introduction to his Gospel.
- The distinctive relationship of Christ to the
message of the Old Testament revelation and tradition is told
in the third row.
- The fourth row of symbols described the relationship
between Christ and the believer, which is established through
the New Covenant.
- The bottom row gives each evangelist's interpretation
of Christ's redemptive passion.
The half border on each column, which guides the
viewer's eye along each column, is significant of the character
of each Gospel narrative.
For more information, click on the links below.
Key to the
Medallions
Symbols of St. Mark's
Gospel
Symbols of St. Matthew's
Gospel
Symbols of St. Luke's
Gospel
Symbols of St. John's
Gospel
"The Artist and the
Medallions"
Key to the Medallions
(Click on any column for more information
and enlarged drawings).
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The Symbols of St.
Mark’s Gospel
The Gospel of Mark, because it was written first,
is placed in the left column.
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- The Winged Lion represents the power and strength
of the "voice of one crying in the wilderness".
With power and vigor Mark's gospel proclaims the Christ
Whom God reveals.
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- The Dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, which descended
upon Jesus at His baptism. Mark introduces Christ as an
adult, ready for baptism.
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- The Flame, Burning Bush, and Flaming Wheel point
to the Transfiguration of Christ, where His relationship
to the Law and the Prophets was established. The Law, given
through Moses, is shown in the Burning Bush. The Prophets
are represented through Elijah, whose symbol is the fiery
wheel. God's voice is shown in the single flame. Mark epitomizes
this progression in his account of the Transfiguration.
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- The Palm, Corner Stone and Sword which tells
of Christ's reception and welcome into the Holy City, His
later rejection, and of God's judgment upon those who chose
to reject Him. Mark presents the Christ-believer relationship
simply. By accepting or welcoming Christ, the believer is
victorious; by rejecting Christ, he shall perish.
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- The Cross and Nimbus, the last medallion for
St. Mark, is significant of Christ's passion and death,
giving witness to the world in the words of the Centurion,
"Truly, this man was the Son of God". Mark's interpretation
of the Passion: behind the crucifixion of Christ shines
the will of God.
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The strength of Christ's will as it was forged
to the will of God is represented in Mark’s Chain border
that flows down the column of medallions.
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The
Symbols of St. Matthew’s Gospel
The symbols of St. Matthew are placed in the
second column.
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- The Winged Man is symbolic of Matthew's gospel
because of the many references to Jesus as the Son of Man
and because of the emphasis on the lineal descent of Jesus
from Abraham.
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- The Seven-Branch Candlestick, the traditional
symbol of Judaism, shows Jesus in His relationship to God
and His chosen people. Matthew presents the Gospel as emerging
naturally from old Jewish tradition.
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- The Alpha and Omega, Tablets of Stone and the Scroll
proclaim that Jesus is the Beginning and the Ending, that
He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Matthew emphasizes
how the fundamental religion proclaimed by the law and the
prophets of the Old Testament is given much fuller meaning
by Jesus, the Messiah.
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- The Boat and the Fish convey Matthew's concept
of the way faith becomes a reality. The boat represents
the Church and the fish the believers in Christ. Matthew
presents the Christ-believer relationship as a mission of
the church (the body of believers) to spread the Gospel
of Christ.
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- The Crown and Sign, Matthew's symbol of Christ's
passion, show the first letters of the Latin words of Pilate's
inscription on the Cross, INRI, which mean, "Jesus
of Nazareth, the King of the Jews". Matthew's interpretation
of the Passion: the Kingdom of God is made accessible to
us by the crucifixion of Jesus.
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The Rope border flowing down the column of medallions
represents Matthew's close tie of the Old and New Testaments.
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The Symbols
of St. Luke’s Gospel
The symbols of St. Luke are placed in the third
column.
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- Luke's gospel is represented by the Winged
Ox, as it emphasizes the sacrifice of Jesus for our
redemption and of the gentle strength of the evangelist
himself.
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- The Horn of Oil and Pomegranate
symbolize healing and salvation and the propagation of the
Gospel, the resurrection and the hope of immortality. Luke's
approach to the Gospel shows a Christ who suffers for a
suffering world.
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- The Cross of Healing and the Star of David tell
of Luke's conception of Christ's mission of redemption to
God's people. Luke sees Christ's death on the cross as an
extension of God's promise to "the chosen people"
of the Old Testament to include Gentiles, as well.
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- The Fountain, Branches and Birds show Luke's
presentation of the New Covenant. The Fountain of Life is
Christ, the Birds, believers from both Jewish and Gentile
peoples, and the Branches, one broken, the other whole,
tell of Christ's salvation to all who believe on Him. Luke
presents the Christ-believer relationship as one in which
Christ can provide life-giving sustenance to ALL those who
come to Him (the believers); but those who cut themselves
off from Him will die.
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- The Crown of Thorns and the Nails depict the
suffering of Christ's redemptive act for our salvation.
Luke's interpretation of the Passion: the suffering and
death of Christ on the cross brings salvation to all nations
(Jews and Gentiles).
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The Thorn border of the medallions shows Luke's
emphasis upon the suffering of Christ.
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The Symbols
of St. John’s Gospel
The symbols of St. John are placed in the fourth
column.
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- The Winged Eagle, traditional
symbol of John and his gospel, characterizes the lofty,
soaring, and powerful message of one whose true home is
in the heights of heaven.
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- The Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God,
tells of the Triumph of Christ, which John announces at
the very beginning of his narrative. John introduces Christ
as the Lamb of God, who is led to the slaughter, yet triumphs
over death.
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- The Grapes and Wheat, significant
of the elements of the Sacrament of the Altar, show the
sacramental character of the whole gospel. John realizes
that the sustaining manna of the Old Testament is replaced
by the eternal qualities of Christ as the bread of life;
similarly, the Feast of the Passover is replaced by the
body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion.
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- The Vine and Branches are
symbols of the new relationship through faith in Christ.
It contains the shields of the twelve apostles, who, with
all who believe, find the living source of their life in
Christ, the Vine. John likens a powerful Christ-believer
relationship to a vine in which we branches live through
Christ, being pruned by God's Spirit of truth to bear fruit.
If we remain fruitless and worthless (reject Christ), we
are cast away.
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- The Passion Flower, the corona
of which represents the Crown of Thorns, together with the
stamens and pistils representing the nails of the Cross,
and the five sepals and five petals pointing to the ten
faithful apostles, all, in a beautiful manner, as a flower
in full bloom, portray the suffering of Christ, discipleship
and beauty of life. John's interpretation of the Passion:
through all the evils done to Jesus, God discloses His glory.
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The Vine border symbolizes Life in Christ,
a thought which permeates the whole gospel of John.
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The Artist
and the Door Medallions
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The original
idea of chased bronze medallions on the doors of St. Mark's
was offered by Mrs. J. Burton Nichols and received with much
enthusiasm by the Rev. Joseph Inslee, then Pastor of the congregation.
Pastor Inslee prepared the arrangement and sequence of symbols,
so interrelated as to tell the message of the Life of Christ
as found in the four gospel accounts.
Mrs. Nichols majored in applied arts
at the University of Wisconsin under Professor William H.
Varnum, one of America's best known writers and authorities
on design and silversmithing. She has taught silver work for
a number of years at the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts,
applied arts in the Wilmington Public Schools, and at the
Young Women's Christian Association. |
In the summer of 1947 Mrs. Nichols
spent six months in Sweden at the Goldsmith Company
in Stockholm, studying under the direction of Sven-Arne
Gillgren.
Among projects, other than the door
medallions at St. Mark's, she has constructed and chased
the decorative copper sconces for the assembly room
in the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia.
Mrs. Nichols became a member of St. Mark's congregation
in October, 1942. She has served as president of the
Altar Guild, member of the Building Committee, chairman
of the Furnishings Committee, and treasurer of the Women's
Missionary Society.
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