Celtic cross
The beautiful Mosaic Celtic Cross that graces the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown was installed in 1951, the 100th anniversary of our brick church building. This was made possible by the generosity of Miss Nellie B. Wilmot, who provided funds in memory of her two sisters and their husbands, Mr. and Mrs. John Sterling and Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Griffith.
The 15 foot cross, installed on the rear wall of the chancel with over 30,000 small stones of Venetian mosaic, was designed by Katharine Lamb Tait. Her career as stained glass designer, artist in mosaic, painter and illustrator spanned about 60 years before her death in 1981, at the age of 86. Selected major commissions of art done by Mrs. Tait are:
- Nave and rose windows at the Protestant and Roman Catholic chapels at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. The history of the Marine Corps from the Revolutionary years to World War II is illustrated in the bottom panels of each of the 10 large nave windows.
- A series on the life of Christ in 26 nave windows in the First Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.
- Hugo B. Froehlich Memorial “Art Education” window in the Newark, New Jersey Museum.
- “Singing Window” in the chancel of the chapel of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The window measures 12 by 7 1/2 feet and contains over 10,000 painted pieces to illustrate spirituals.
- Mosaic figures of Christ and the evangelists in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York City.
- Chancel mosaic cross at Canaan Baptist Church in Washington, DC.
The Symbolism of our Celtic Cross
The CROSS is the most precious symbol of the Christian faith, standing as an everlasting sign of the compassionate love and sacrifice of God which brings redemption to mankind.
The CELTIC CROSS, with its circle and slightly tapering arms, is an ancient cross of western Scotland. Its is particularly appropriate for a Presbyterian Church with its strong Scottish heritage.
The CIRCLE, having no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God and our faith in everlasting life. Within the circle is the crown of thorns, symbolizing the crucifixion.
The LAMB OF GOD (Agnus Dei) in the center of the cross is symbolical of the sacrifice of God in Jesus Christ Our Lord. (Isaiah 53:5-7, John 1:20, Revelation 5:12-13). The head is surrounded with rays of light, signifying divinity.
The RESURRECTION BANNER carried by the lamb symbolizes Christ’s victory over death and his ultimate triumph in the world, as suggested in Revelation 14 and in Revelation 11: “The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdom of our Lord.”
The SIX-POINTED STAR behind the Lamb is symbolic of God, the creator of the universe (Genesis 1:31). As an emblem of God the Father, the six points refer to his attributes: wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
The WINGED BEASTS in the four arms of the cross symbolize the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), whose message radiates to all parts of the earth. These ancient symbols are taken from Revelation 4:7 and Ezekiel 10:14. At the top of the cross is the EAGLE, believed to soar higher than any other bird, representing JOHN, because his gospel emphasizes the divine nature of Christ. The lower arm of the cross contains the WINGED MAN which represents MATTHEW, because his gospel speaks of the human genealogy of Christ and emphasizes the manhood of our Lord. In the left arm of the cross is the WINGED LION representing MARK, alluding to Mark 1:3. His gospel starts with a roar, with hardly any introduction. It rushes hurriedly over the life of Christ, leaving you the impression of Christ’s royal status. The right arm of the cross contains the WINGED CALF which represents LUKE. His gospel is not only the most beautiful from a literary standpoint, but portrays so winsomely the humble Christ, Son of God, yet Servant of Man. Here you read of the shepherds in the field, of the Good Samaritan and of the Prodigal Son. Therefore, the calf, suggestive of sacrifice and humility, becomes the symbol of Luke’s gospel. Thus, Christ’s full nature is expressed in the arrangement of the gospels, with JOHN (divinity) and MATTHEW (humanity) standing above and below Christ the Lamb, and MARK (royalty) and LUKE (humility) standing at the two sides.
The STARS next to the winged beasts are symbolic of the seven angels (Revelation 1:16, 20) watching over the seven types of churches (Revelation 1:10 to 3:22). The seven stars also symbolize the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Love, Longsuffering, Faith, Peace, Joy, Gentleness, Temperance.
The DESCENDING DOVE, the first medallion in the staff of the cross, is the historic symbol of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16). This symbol completes the symbolism of the Trinity, with God the Father (STAR), Son (LAMB), and Holy Spirit (DOVE). When used with a baptismal font, the dove is also the common symbol of baptism.
The CHALICE AND THE BREAD, the second medallion in the staff of the cross, is the symbol of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).
The SHIP ON THE WAVES, the third medallion, symbolizes the Christian Church making her true course through the tumult of the world. The mast is like a Cross. This symbol has been adopted by the World Council of Churches, symbolizing our world-wide unity in the faith.
The VINE, BRANCHES, AND FRUIT, entwining the entire staff of the cross, and weaving the symbols together, represent the words of Christ of John 15: “Abide in me, and I in you. I am the VINE, ye are the BRANCHES: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much FRUIT.” Here is the secret of the saints: they knew that if you want to produce FRUIT, you must cultivate the root.
The ALPHA AND OMEGA at the base of the cross on each side of the stem and roots of the vine, are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, alluding to the verse in Revelation 22:13, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Jesus is A to Z to us – he is everything in bringing the reality of God and the Christian Life close to home. It is also used in Revelation 1 in the message to the seven churches.
Dr. Douglas M. and Mary P. Sanford