Seventeenth Ward: Stained Glass Details

It's been quite a while since I posted about the Seventeenth Ward chapel in Salt Lake City. Since the last post, I revisited to get some better pictures of the beautiful stained glass window at the front of the chapel.

This window is against an external wall--in fact, the window shape is visible from the chapel's exterior--but it is covered with a black backdrop, and electrical lights are used to illuminate the window. From what I can see, the Church building department is reluctant to allow natural light to illuminate stained glass windows behind the pulpit, in case it shines too brightly and makes it difficult for the congregation to view the speaker. (Stained glass windows in the LeGrande Ward and the Lehi Fourth Ward, also behind the pulpit, are lit electronically.)

This is all fine and well, but the electric lights don't live up to the window of this chapel. They take several minutes to light up, and they don't fully illuminate the window, especially at the top.

 They do a fine job of illuminating the central scene, however.

James 1:5 is found along the bottom of the window, along with the phrase, "This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him!"

There are some things I like about this window as compared to the one in the Salt Lake Second Ward, which has identical figures. The one in the Second Ward has more vibrant colors (helped by natural light) and has the unique seagull at the top; however, this window provides for a taller scene for the First Vision; allowing the Father and the Son to be much higher than Joseph. Additionally, I like the purple and blue colors that are present in this window.

It's a lovely treasure for the Church.

Seventeenth Ward: Interior

The stained glass depiction of the First Vision in this chapel is stunning.

I have since visited this chapel again and got better photos of the window, which will come in another post.

The only other notable feature of this building was this painting in the lobby: 

Something tells me this isn't in the standard list of approved Church artwork. I'm curious about the history of this painting.

Seventeenth Ward (Salt Lake)

The Salt Lake Seventeenth Ward is less unique because of its actual building and more unique because of the stained glass depiction of the first vision that it houses.

This is the original Seventeenth Ward chapel:

(Image Source)

The structure was (most unfortunately) demolished in 1966. I can't help but notice its strong resemblance to the Malad City 2nd Ward Chapel and the Brigham City 4th Ward Chapel. At least the stained glass was preserved.

The only other thing of note is the fact that the stake center's steeple is clearly a recent addition--you can tell without looking at an older photo, but here's one, anyway:

(Source: Church History Library)

I guess the goal was to make it look more like a Church--and it sort of does--but it sort of makes it look like the building can't decide which type of architecture it is. In any case, I will provide interior pictures soon.