Stained glass windows as memorials have long been a favored way to honor a deceased family member. St. John's has many stained glass windows, with 9 as memorials.
In November 1887, the Reverend Lewis Burton and his wife, along with Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Brown, asked the vestry's permission to place stained glass windows in the chancel as memorials to their children. Permission was granted to the families with the condition that they insure the windows against damage. The vestry records show that the windows were probably installed in December 1888.
A letter dated February 21, 1889 survives in the Burton family papers from a little known English stained glass maker who also had a workshop in New York City. Charles Booth wrote to Burton concerning work recently sent to St. John's Church. Since the contracting for the windows was done privately, the Burton and Brown windows are attributed to the New York workshop of Charles Booth.
Seven months later, in June 1888, Mrs. Allen Y. Stokes asked the vestry if she could place a stained glass window in memory of her husband. The vestry granted her permission on the same terms as the Burton and Brown windows. An article in the Southern Churchman for December 27, 1888 describes the window and its placement in the church. Mrs. Stokes chose to have the window located by the pew her husband occupied when he first joined the church. This pew was also the one in which tradition holds that Patrick Henry stood to deliver his " Liberty or Death" speech. The article states that the window was "imported by Mr. Charles Booth, of New York" from Europe - a further tie between the Booth firm and St. John's Church.
One interesting note on the window was found in the writings of Peyton Rhodes Carrington, a member of the church during the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a devoted historian who kept track of many fascinating bits of information. He wrote on November 17, 1888: "This Saturday Evening Mr. Gibson the Carpenter put the Memorial Window in St. Johns church in Memoriam of AY Stokes decd. I heard that the window was stepped on by one or two sightseers as it laid in the isle."
Seventeen years later, on January 3, 1905, Mrs. A. Y. Stokes' children asked permission of the vestry to place a memorial window in St. John's in memory of their mother. The vestry granted permission as long as the design of the window was submitted to the rector and vestry for approval. It was discovered during the research of these windows that the J & R Lamb Studios in New York created this window. The window is clearly identified in their record books as "Dorcas, 1905, "Stokes" memorial window, 125 1/2" high x 53 3/4" wide, painted antique glass." Mrs. Stokes' window was placed next to her husband's in December 1905. It is mentioned in an article published that month in the Southern Churchman.
The two windows most admired by visitors to St. John's are the Lacey and Shields windows, directly across from the Stokes windows. Their style is quite different from that of the Stokes windows. Thus, the church's windows dramatically illustrate various techniques in the design and construction of stained glass windows.
The Lacey window is the best-documented window in St. John's Church. Miss Emma Lacey asked permission of the vestry to place a window in December 1895. The vestry granted permission as long as they were given approval of the design and the window cost not less than $500.00. The window was not placed until May 1902, because Miss Lacey had died in 1897 and a brother contested her will. In the Chancery Court records of the city of Richmond is the piece of paper Miss Lacey tendered to the vestry with the design of the window and the memorial inscription for their approval. The paper is attached to her will, which reflects her strong dedication to having the window erected at St. John's. The question of the money left for the window was finally settled in 1901. The vestry records state that Mr. Sutton, Miss Lacey's executor, had the money for the window. The wardens and rector were directed to have the memorial window placed under the direction of Miss Lacey's will. On May 29, 1902, in the Fiduciary Account Book, #118 for the Chancery Courts of Richmond is the entry "To cash paid C. P. Rowland for Memorial Window in St. John's Church by direction of will." The location of a C. P. Rowland who was involved in the production or sale of stained glass windows has not been found.
The bell tower blew down for the second time in 1896. During its restoration, it was decided to replace all the plain glass in the church with "Cathedral glass." The vestry records note that on September 29, 1896, the building committee was "authorized to beautify the church by substituting stained glass in the windows, for the ordinary lights." The vestry records document payment of $175.00 to a L. O. Vogel, possibly from the local stained glass company of Vogl & Dean. We must assume that all of the stained glass windows that are not memorials were installed at this time.
A little more than a year after Miss Lacey requested permission to place a stained glass memorial window, Mrs. James Shields petitioned the vestry to allow her to place a window in memory of her late husband. The vestry gave their permission to the Shields family, designating at that time the placement of their window and the as yet to be placed Lacey window. The Shields window was probably installed sometime in May 1897.
When the chancel area was enlarged in 1905, the Brown and Burton windows were removed from their original positions and reinstalled as they appear today. While the work was being completed, it was suggested to the building committee that the windows would be more aesthetically pleasing if a third window was placed between them. A window was purchased from a local company, the Bunce Art Glass Co., for the amount of $56.00 and installed. Photographs of this window survive in the Cook Collection, Valentine Museum, Richmond, Virginia, further documenting its existence. Within eight months, the window would be replaced by the one seen today. It is in memory of Mrs. Susan Reed and was placed by her daughter and nephews, with the usual stipulation that the vestry and rector had final approval on the design of the window.
Of the last two memorial windows to be placed, little is known. Permission was granted to Mr. Frank J. Craigie, Sr. to install a window in memory of his wife, Anne Wilson Craigie, on April 1, 1912. The vestry records have been searched, but the exact date of the installation has not been discovered. This window was removed for restoration and reinstalled in 1996.
The window dedicated to James Staunton Moore, who edited and compiled the book History Henrico Parish and Old St. John's Church, was probably installed in September 1914. The vestry records note that permission to place the window was granted to his relatives in February 1914.