LHS 3
Depicts:- St. Michael and Ruth
Designed And Installed By:- Philip Handel 1973
In Memory Of:- James Fredrick Darley and Nancy Herle Dell
Text And Religious Significance:
Inscription on window: High:- LHS: Thy Prince shall stand for the people
RHS: Thy God shall be my God
St. Michael. Rev. 12: 7-9
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (NIV)
St Michael was regarded in the Church as the helper of Christian armies against the heathen and as a protector of individual Christians against the devil, especially at the hour of death, when he conducts the souls to God. He is usually represented with a sword, standing over or fighting with a dragon as in this window.
Ruth. (Book of Ruth, - from The Old Testament.)
Ruth was a Moabitess, who had married a Hebrew when he was compelled during a famine in the land of Judah to take refuge in Moab. After the death of her husband, Ruth determined to return to Judah with her mother-in-law, and Boaz, a kinsman of her former husband, took her under his protection and married her. In St. Matthew's genealogy, Ruth is specifically mentioned as the great Grandmother of David and so as an ancestress of Christ. Matthew 1: 5-16
In this window Ruth is working in the fields on her way home. Ruth 1: 22- Ruth 2: 1-2
"So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” (NIV)
Gift of and Wording:-
LHS: In Memoriam James Frederick Darley OBIT 25: 2: 1971. The gift of his family
RHS: In memoriam Nancy Merle Dell OBIT 18:2:1972 The gift of her family
LHS Panel (also called 'light'):
The left hand picture of St. Michael was the gift of Mrs. Nancy Darley in memorial to her late husband.
Mrs. Darley had recently travelled to England and was so impressed with the magnificent stained glass windows in the churches there.
James Fredrick Darley lived and worked in Sale for many years and was a well known and popular member of the community. Mrs. Nancy Darley was a very wonderful church worker and was well supported by her family. She was the organist for some twenty years at the cathedral and also gave the small music window above the organ.
RHS Panel:
The right hand picture of Ruth was the gift of Gordon Dell in memorial to his late wife Nancy who had died suddenly in Sale.
Gordon Dell was employed in the oil industry in this part of Gippsland and was well known to many. Nancy was a very keen church worker and attended regularly.
LHS: Thy Prince shall stand for the people RHS: Thy God shall be my God
