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Radford resident Bess Bullard made a study of stained glass windows during her extensive travels in the 1920s. She decided that Grace Church must have the beautiful stained glass windows designed by Franz Mayer and Sons of Munich, Germany. Her idea was to have the windows be given in memorial to special parishioners who had made important contributions in the development of the city and to the Episcopal Church. Those memorialized included original families who were active at St. James' and then at Grace such as the Adams, Wilsons, Osbornes, and Prestons, (Hugh was the first Mayor of Radford), and the Washingtons, (said to be descendants of George Washington's brother). Others who came later included the Darnells, Garkings, Raglands, Jones' Howes. Battles, and Hodges. Deaconess Adams is also memorialized.
Miss Bess persuaded each of their families to give $100 to place the orders for the new windows. This was a courageous undertaking during the depression.
The 18 individual stained glass panels, which encircle the sanctuary, and the Rose window over the entry, are a pictorial of the life of Christ from the Annunciation to the Ascension. The first group of windows arrived and were installed in 1934. Bishop Jett held at least three services of dedication for the windows and other recent memorials in 1934 and 1937. For the memorials to their parents, Miss Bess and Miss Anna chose the Resurrection and the quote "Because I live - Ye shall live also." (John 14-19) for the altar panels.
The last two panels were not ordered and installed until vestry approval in 1958. They were in place before the organ was moved in the late 1960's and given by Miss Hannah Washington and Mrs. Mary Washington Clay in memory of Sophie Carter Washington. After the organ was moved, these two windows were hidden behind the organ pipes and were not seen for more than twenty years. In fact many parishioners did not know they even existed. They have since been moved, in 1993 or early 1994, to the vestibule. Their beauty have added much to the front entrance of the church.
A story related by Mrs. Sophie
Sublett Martin adds to the history of the windows and reinforces the portrait
of Miss Bess as a resourceful woman who would not be intimidated.
"She went back to Munich and she called up .... as only Miss Bess could
.... and said, 'Now you know I'm Bessie K. Bullard from Radford,' Mrs Martin
told Rodger Streitmatter, "and we bought all our beautiful windows from
you, and I want to see how they're made "personally" - not just the
pictures." Of course, she got her tour. "I think it was delightful,"
Mrs. Martin said.
An interesting trademark of Mayer's art is his use of Vladimir Lenin, the Russian
revolutionary, as a model for the biblical characters in his windows.
At Grace Church, a bald man who could be Lenin appears in the window depicting
when Jesus, as a child, went to the temple.
In all, these magnificent windows of untold value continue to enhance the worship
and history of Grace and are one more lovely memorial to the devotion and dedication
of Mrs. Bess Bullard.
There are two booklets written on the history of the Stained Glass Windows at Grace Episcopal Church Radford, VA. Rodger Streitmatter was instrumental in the 1st one written in 1976. In the Grace Centennial book printed in 1992 additional information is available.