“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” Isaiah 9:10 ESV
Call it a professional or occupational passion, but I love visiting churches, especially old churches, and not just for their architecture, but for the stories contained in their history. One of my favorites is Winchester Cathedral in England. Founded as a pre-Norman cathedral in 642, the current building was begun in 1079, consecrated in 1093, with many additions and alterations over the next 550 or so years. Besides being one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest Gothic nave in England and greatest overall length of any medieval cathedral in the world, it has a unique stain glass window above the main entrance to the cathedral has a mosaic pattern that is not found in any other church in England. This pattern is stunning when viewed from the inside of the cathedral and the sun is pouring through. The story of how it came to be is perhaps more fascinating than the window itself, as the mosaic design was not the intended one.
The original window above the main entrance to the Norman Cathedral of Winchester was of similar design to many other churches of the era with images of popular saints and illustrations from the bible. The stain glass windows were destroyed towards the end of the English civil war (1642–1651) when Winchester was a Royalist heartland. Much of the castle and adjoining city was ruined after being overrun by the Parliamentarians.
On the night of the submission of Winchester castle to Parliamentarian rule the victorious army celebrated with copious amounts of stolen alcohol from the Royalists cellars. After becoming excessively drunk the army descended on Winchester Cathedral and set about ransacking the relics and holy tombs of Anglo-Saxon Saints. Many of the tombs contained bones which some over-merry soldiers thought would be a good idea to send flying through the ancient stain glass windows, while the soldiers with guns used them for target practice. This continued until all of the windows were smashed with the shards of the colorful glass strewn across the cathedral’s floors.
Winchesters residents were horrified by the actions of the Parliamentarians and, though in a position of little power, carefully collected the broken shards and stored them under the beds in their homes. The glass was stored secretly for 18 years until the restoration of the Monarchy with King Charles II. There were plans that the glass could be repaired to re-create the original designs, but it became quickly evident that this would be impossible, so the glass fragments were randomly joined to make a mosaic pattern. This pattern is what stands above the main entrance today.
When King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple of Solomon in 586 B.C., the Israelites cried, “How long, O, LORD?” (The full lamentation is found in Psalm 79). The Temple was rebuilt and was more beautiful and magnificent than before, a testimony to the grace and love of God.
When the shattered pieces of our lives lie in ruin about us, how do they get put back together to form a picture more beautiful than it was to begin with? The answer: piece by piece. And we don’t do it alone. More often than not, it takes the help of others to rebuild that which has been shattered and broken in our lives. God wants to restore that which is broken in your life. He wants to make your life better than it was if you will but allow Him.
Pray this prayer with me: Loving God, Creator of all that is and all that will be, take the broken pieces of my life and make them into a tapestry of your grace and mercy, that others will see your handiwork through me. Amen.
Fr. Steve +
