Created by Tiffany Studios in New York City at the beginning of the 20th century and named for the angels of the Bible’s Book of Revelation, the windows were originally installed in the Church of the New Jerusalem in Cincinnati, Ohio. When the church was taken by eminent domain and torn down for highway construction in 1964, the windows were crated and later purchased for the Swedenborgian Church at Temenos by generous donors from across the United States. These treasures were stored in various garages and sheds for decades until their re-discovery in 2001. An anonymous donation in 2004 began the fundraising efforts for their restoration and inspired In Company with Angels.
The non-profit corporation, In Company with Angels, Inc. was founded by people from a small town in Pennsylvania who were inspired to share their rediscovery of a unique set of seven Tiffany angel windows with the world. They saw a parallel between the work of uncovering and revealing the beauty of the windows hidden beneath the dirt, and the work of uncovering and revealing the beauty of their own unique understanding of life hidden beneath everyday experiences. This impetus to ‘reveal the beauty,’ influenced the restoration of windows, the process of creating the non-profit organization, the composition of music, the design of the website and the creation of the exhibit. It is what happens when the windows are backlit and light streams through the stained-glass. It has been reported by people who have viewed the windows and feel something newly revealed within them.
The history of the creation, hidden years and rediscovery of the Tiffany windows which inspired the In Company with Angels project is an amazing story in itself. The way the museum exhibition is being developed, organically nurtured with input and creativity from educational organizations and inspired artists and craftsmen, is unique and inspiring. The possibilities for interaction, education and interconnectedness on the planned interactive website are endless. These aspects of the project fulfill the organization’s mission “to share with the greatest number of people Tiffany’s window series ‘Angels Representing Seven Churches,’ to provide education about its historical and artistic significance, to archive its evolution and journey and to ensure its safekeeping for future generations to discover and enjoy.”
In Company with Angels seeks to:
- share with the greatest number of people Tiffany’s window series "Angels Representing Seven Churches"
- provide education about their historical and artistic significance
- archive their evolution and journey
- insure their safekeeping for future generations to discover and enjoy.