Our Art: Needlework Tapestries

These Needlework Tapestries were created by Rev. H. Maxwell Walton, our second pastor, after his retirement. His wife donated them to the church after he passed away. Each square represents an important Christian symbol and their meanings are described below:

 This first square has a Greek style cross with first initials of each of the four Gospellers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Greek crosses have two bars, both the same length.

St. Matthew represented as a young man with wings. St. Matthew is the first Gospeller as he is the author of the first book of the New Testament. St. Matthew wrote about Jesus Christ’s human life on earth, so his symbol is a human with a messenger’s wings.

Jesus Christ represented as the Lamb of God or Angus Dei in Latin. The Jewish culture Jesus grew up with was commanded by God in the Old Testament to sacrifice innocent and pure Lambs to worship God. The lamb’s fat would mix with ashes and make soap, a fitting prophecy for Jesus Christ who would come and wash away our sins by His once for all sacrifice on the Cross.

Jesus Christ at the Transfiguration on Mt Tabor is shown with both a Halo and an Aureole. The halo is the circle around his head, used in Medieval Art to show which figure in an artwork represents a holy person. The red cross bars in the Halo show that this figure is Christ. A saint would have a plain halo. The Aureole is a bright light surrounding the entire figure, showing Jesus Christ shining in His True Glory. He is truly the Light of the World!

The Winged Lion has long represented St. Mark, the second of the Gospellers, author of the second book of the New Testament. St. Mark writes about the Might and Power of God, and so is represented by the strong kingly animal, a Lion. He is given wings because he is a messenger of God.

This red shield with a Spear and Carpenters Square represents St. Thomas who worked as a carpenter and was later martyred with a spear while working as a missionary in India.

This red shield with an open Bible and a Battle Ax represents St. Matthais, who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after the death of Jesus Christ. St. Matthais became a missionary in Capedocia and was eventually marytred by stoning and beheading.  His manner of death is similar to that of John the Baptist who was also beheaded.

The Winged Ox represents St. Luke, the third Gospeller, and the author of the third book of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke and also the sequel to the Four Gospels, The Book of Acts. St. Luke was a physician and also travelled with St. Paul on his three misssionary journey’s to the northern Mediteranean.

This Red Cross on a white background is a cross from the time of the Crusades in the 11th and 12 centuries. It is formed with four spearpoints, and was used by the Knights Templar as their emblem. The Knights Templar were are group of knights who fought in the Crusades. They were required to wear a white shirt or mantle at all times, with a red cross that symbolized martyrdom. They were to die for the Faith if necessary. This cross was worn from about 1147, during the Second Crusade.

NOTE: Christ Lutheran Church also has fabric-based art that we use for Banners, Flags and Paraments. Please see our Banners, Flags and Paraments page to view these works of art.