Corpus Christi RC Church - Table of Contents

Wheel and Clearstory Windows
Corpus Christi RC Church
189 Clark Street, Buffalo, NY 14212

Corpus Christi - Official Website   (online June 2022)

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Research by Gregory Witul

All stained glass windows in Corpus Christi Church are by Mayer of Munich

Wheel Window

In July 1969, the exterior of the entire wheel window was repaired and cemented, and a protective clear plastic-glass shield was used to cover every section of it.

The subject matter of choir loft windows typically involves music. Here, the central figure is St. Cecilia playing an organ. (St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and church music because she praised God, singing to him, as she lay dying a martyr's death.) She is surrounded by angels playing various instruments.

The architectural style of Corpus Christi is Romanesque Revival which often incorporates large stained glass windows, including wheel or rose windows, sometimes setting the wheel or rose window window into a tier of vertical lights of staggered height. Large stained glass windows were a development of Gothic architecture which followed Romanesque style.

Clearstory Window

The clearstory window shown below is only one of the ten
clearstory windows (2-panels united by a circular panel above) that are in the church. 


2009 Photos

Wheel Window

St. Cecilia and Angels Playing Music at the Coronation of Mary in Heaven


Top: St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments                   Bottom: Mary being crowned Queen of Heaven

Details below:

 
St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  at the Coronation of Mary in Heaven



St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail                  Note quatrefoil shape of the panel.



St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail




St. Cecelia and Angels playing musical instruments  - Detail






Coronation of Mary in Heaven            Details:


Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail                   God the Father




Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail




Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail            Mary and Jesus




Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail             Jesus




Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail




Coronation of Mary in Heaven  - Detail




Clearstory Stained Glass Window

   
This clearstory window is only one of the ten clearstory windows (2-panels united by a circular panel above) that are in the church. The windows are identical except for thetwo iconic images in the larger panels.              Details below:


Clearstory
 window - Detail

Chalice with Keys to Heaven given to Peter. 
Note 3 shapes: 
quatrefoil, trefoil, cross.


 


Clearstory
 window - Detail

IHS            Note 3 shapes: quatrefoil, trefoil, cross


 

Clearstory window - Detail          

 Quatrefoils






Special thanks to Corpus Christi Pastor Rev. Anzelm Chalupka for his cooperation in 2009
Photos and their arrangement © 2002 Chuck LaChiusa
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