Art at St. Timothy’s
St. Timothy’s displays both stained glass windows oil paintings and icons to enhance the beauty of our worship and to honor the glory of God.
Stained Glass Windows
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At the rear of the church, in the narthex, stands the great west window (liturgical, not directional, west) commissioned by the Quirk family in 2001-2002, given in memory of Bette Quirk, who served St. Timothy’s as church secretary for 22 years.
The window contains symbols pertinent to both St. Timothy’s ministry in the area as well as Bette’s personal role in the church and the community. This large window is composed of several panels which are divided into two major themes. The upper panels in the loft depict “Ministries of the Church.” A lower panel in the narthex represents “Christ with Children.” The upper panels depict themes rooted in the 25th chapter of Matthew: Clothe the Naked, Feed the Hungry, Visit the Sick, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Ransom the Captive, and Shelter the Stranger. The panel below “Christ with Children” features a wreath surrounding Bette’s personal neck cross and chain and a Dedication. The window was made in England of antique stained glass. It was designed and manufactured by J. Wippell & Company, Ltd., a 200-year-old firm specializing in church furnishings and vestments. The artwork was created by Wippell senior artist Gerald Miller. The chapel window was installed in 1964 in memory of John Cox, a pilot and member of St. Timothy’s who died in military reserve service, given by his family and friends and the Women’s Auxiliary of St. Timothy’s. The window depicts symbols for the Trinity, for Saint Paul (to honor our mother church in Freeport) and for Saint Timothy. |
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Oil Paintings
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Surrounding the altar are four triangular paintings of angels, which were commissioned and donated by Jaime and Marie Alvarez-Calderon in 2007-2008. They also coordinated this cooperative project between artists speaking different languages and located on two continents. The angels are given in thanksgiving for inspired and talented artists Franci Kelley and Ruben Aponte.
The angels represent four aspects of life at St. Timothy’s. The Word of God and its influence on the people of St. Timothy's is symbolized by the Angel of Formation holding a scroll and receiving divine inspiration. Next the Eucharist, our common meal, is represented by the Angel of Worship with the host being blessed by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. The Angel of Music represents our praise of God through song. Finally, the Angel of Ministry inspires us to go into the world ministering with the power of the Spirit. |
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Franci Kelley is an artist/illustrator living in College Station, Texas. She and her husband Michael have one grown son, Joel and are former parishioners of St. Timothy's. Originally from New York state, Franci's creative talents led her to art school and three decades of independently developing her painting style and a love for the decorative arts, especially book illustration. For nearly twenty years she divided her time and energy between home educating their son, a part time career in retail and freelance art projects. Currently, Franci is creating a body of work focusing on classic folk and fairy stories. Besides commissioned work, her paintings and prints can be seen in area galleries and select gift shops.
Ruben Aponte, an accomplished Peruvian artist, created the oil paintings around the altar using Franci’s watercolor models. He is married and the father of three sons and a daughter. Ruben received his education at the Bellas Artes fine art institute in Lima, Peru, the city where he has spent most of his life. His life has been dedicated to painting classic religious oils. Ruben specializes in art styles from the 17th and 18th centuries, but is also accomplished at adapting to other periods as early as the 13th century and as contemporary as the angels in St. Timothy’s. Ruben’s paintings hang in churches, museums, and homes of private collectors in the US, Europe, and South America. |
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