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The History of Grace Church
Basic History | the Garden |
the Shrine | The
Windows
 Basic
History
Sheboygan
was a frontier town in 1847, and life was primitive at best. A few
months before the parish was formally organized, a little group of
devout people built a small wood-frame church on a $150 lot donated by
Daniel Whitney, a Green Bay land speculator. This was the site on which
Grace Church stands today. The first service was held on Christmas Day
1847, and two months later the church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev.
Jackson Kemper, Missionary Bishop of the Northwest Territory.
"Before the open fire, with Father (Blow) in the center in that
big leather chair and we on either side of him, he told us the story.
'Boys', he said, 'I want you to keep alive in this congregation what I
am going to tell you tonight. My sister made a journey to the Holy
Land... and by my request picked up small stones... about seven pounds.
I took these to God's altar, blessed them with holy water and prayer.
When the foundation at the south end was about two feet high, I placed
three picked from the River Jordan, where Christ was baptized, for through
baptism we enter His Church.'
'When the chancel arch was finished, I myself placed some pebbles above
the keystone which came from Bethlehem... and I want the people of
Sheboygan to come, as the Shepards did, to accept Christ.'
 'When
the north wall was as high as the altar table, I placed in the clean
mortar pieces of olive wood and some stones which were found in the Garden
of Gethsemane... When this same wall was a little above the windows,
there I placed five stones (Christ received five wounds when He was
crucified). These were brought from Golgotha. Above the
ballroom of the tower, I placed fifteen stones in the form of a cross,
three stones at the base, eight above each other, four across to form the
cross; three base stones, the Holy Trinity; twelve, the twelve
apostles...'"
~this account is quoted from the diary of the choirboy, and can also be
found in the book about the Grace Episcopal Church, "Amazing
Grace. A Sesquicentennial Remembrance." Please
contact the office if you would like a copy of this wonderful book.
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The Garden
Clove Pinks
The clove-like fragrance of these flowers reminds one of the
spice. The actual spice is shaped much like a small nail. In
fact cloves are called just that, nelken, in German. This
image ties the plant to the Crucifixion.
Columbine
Columbine is one of those intriguing flowers that can take on several
different meanings depending on its color. The name comes from the
Latin word columba, which translates as dove. Columbine was
appropriately named because the flower is shaped like a dove, so it was
used by the medieval artists to symbolize the Holy Spirit. Columbine
often blooms with seven flowers to the stalk. The seven white
Columbine blooms on a stalk might be intended to represent the seven gifts of the Spirit, according to the prophecy of
Isaiah (Isaiah 11:2). In French, however, the columbine was called ancolie, the derivation
of our word melancholy. The purple columbine, or ancolie, that is found in this enclosed
garden predicts the melancholy of the Virgin at the Crucifixion and death of her Son.
This melancholy is referred to as the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin.
Daisies
Because of their sweet simplicity, daisies are used to denote the Christ Child's innocence.
In the Garden of Grace, we have chosen a dwarf Shasta daisy rather than the more rangy
field daisy to represent this meaning.
Hyssop
Because this plant grows in solitary places among stones, it is used to symbolize penitence
and humility. Due to its purgative qualities, it is taken to symbolize innocence regained
(Psalm 51:7).
Ivy
This plant has been closely identified with death and immortality. Some species are forever
green and therefore symbolize fidelity and eternal life. Ivy clings to its support; therefore, it
is a symbol of attachment and undying affection.
Lady's Mantle
The leaf of this low-growing plant is shaped like the cloak or mantle of Our Lady. In the
early morning, the pleats of the leaf glisten with gem-like drops of dew. These droplets
were believed to have a special purifying quality. The Lady's Mantle puts forth quantities
of pale gold flowers-an offering to the Virgin and Christ Child above.
Lamb's Ears
The leaf of this plant is shaped much like the ear of a lamb, but it is also a soft wooly leaf,
which gives it its English name, Jesus Flannel. It was thought to be soft enough to serve as the
Christ Child's swaddling clothes. The association of the plant with a lamb, of course, makes it
most appropriate in connection with Jesus as the Lamb of God or the Sacrificial Lamb.
Lavender
Lavender is an herb associated with Mary because of its delightful fragrance and its
symbolism of devotion.
Lily
The lily is a symbol of purity and has become the flower of the Virgin. Traditionally,
artists depicted the archangel Gabriel offering a Madonna Lily to Mary at the
Annunciation. The pure white petals refer to the sinless state of Mary; the golden stamens
held within the Lily are an apt allusion to the gold (Christ) she carried in her womb. In
the Garden of Grace we have selected the fragrant white Casablanca Lily to replace the
hard-to-grow Madonna Lily.
Lily of the Valley
This fragrant white flower was nicknamed 'Our Lady's Tears.' One of the first flowers of
the spring, it became a symbol for the Advent of Christ. The whiteness of its flower and
the sweetness of its scent made it an apt symbol for the Virgin, and it was frequently used
to represent her immaculate conception.
Mint
The blue blossoming catmint was chosen to represent the mint that Konrad von Wurzburg
includes in his list of pungent herbs associated with the Virgin Mary. The mounds of deep
blue flowers in the spring recall the color of the Virgin's cloak. Blue is the color of fidelity..
Pansies
This flower has long been a symbol of remembrance and meditation. It most likely derives
its name from the French word pensee, which means to think or ponder. The three petals
that form the face of the pansy have made it a symbol of the Trinity..
Periwinkle
In milder European winters, the periwinkle leaves remain green and therefore are symbolic
of everlasting life..
Purple Iris
The purple iris is used as a disguised symbol foreshadowing the grief of Mary at the
Crucifixion of Christ. The sword-shaped leaves of the iris are the basis for its other
name-sword-lily (schwertlilie in German). Thus it is an allusion to old Simeon's
prophecy to Mary during the presentation of Christ in the temple: "Yea, a sword
shall pass through thy own soul also." (Luke 2:35).
Strawberries
The low-growing strawberries are grown with the violets to suggest that the truly spiritual
are always humble. They represent perfect righteousness or the righteous fruits of the Spirit..
Violets
Any low-growing flower becomes an easily understood symbol of humility-one of the more
praiseworthy virtues in medieval days. St. Bernard described the Virgin as "the violet of
humility." Violets may also denote the humility of the Son of God in assuming human form..
White Climbing Roses
In religious paintings, the Virgin is sometimes shown seated in front of a brocaded cloth
known as the cloth of honor. A charming substitute for the cloth of honor is a rose bower.
In a meditation garden, white climbing roses may be used to reinforce the purity image of
the Virgin and present the idea of the cloth of honor..
Water Fountain
Water cleanses and purifies, but more specifically a water fountain is a symbol of one of
the attributes of the Virgin Mary, who was regarded as the 'fountain of living waters.' This
interpretation is based on the famous passage in the Song of Solomon (4:12ff) and upon Psalm
36:9, which reads, "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."
The water fountain on the west wall is backed by the tree of life. A shell, the basin to
receive the water, is a common symbol for the Christian pilgrimage, and the three small birds
resting on the edge of the basin represent the soul of man as it flies heavenward. The presence
of three birds, of course, is a Trinitarian reference.
Over the centuries, the religious symbolism of many plants has become lost or obscured
through disuse. It is hoped that the unearthing of their meaning may contribute an added
depth to our prayer and meditation in the Garden of Grace.
From season to season, the flowers in the Garden of Grace may change, depending upon the availability and adaptability of plants. However, all plantings will remain true to the themes of Life Everlasting and Our Lady of Grace.
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The Shrine
The Chapel of Our Lady of Walsingham, on the west side of the transept, is a nationally
known shrine that was inspired by a visit of Fr. Curtiss to England. It was set apart in 1930
and consecrated in 1931. On the altar, which was hand-carved by C.E. Rudolph, a longtime
member of the parish and an intimate friend of Fr. Blow, is the replica of the original statue of
Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk, England. It is a most lovely piece of carving and is
believed to be the first set up in any parish church in this country. The Lady Shrine has inspired
groups from all over the nation in annual pilgrimage for twenty-three years.
In the middle of the floor is a small wedge-shaped stone brought by Fr. Curtiss from St.
Mary's Chapel in Glastonbury, England. The five paintings above the altar represent the
Blessed Virgin enthroned, attended by Ss. Agnes and Cecilia and Angels. They were painted by
T. Noyes Lewis of London, a personal friend of Fr. Curtiss.
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The Windows
The stained-glass windows in the nave are the work of Erhardt Stoettner, a Milwaukee
glass craftsman. Each portrays a different episode in Christ's life in chronological order. All
have been installed since 1968.
Beginning at the left front of the nave:
- The Annunciation and Visitation
- The Holy Nativity and Adoration
- Presentation of Our Lord's Life and the Flight into Egypt
- Christ in the Temple
Passing across to the right:
- The Redemptive Ministry and the Transfiguration
- The Keys Given to St. Peter
- Palm Sunday and Gethsemane
- The Last Supper
- The Easter Victory
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