THE STORY OF THE NEEDLEPOINT OF THE CHANCEL

OF

SAINT JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH DOVER PLAINS

NEW YORK

By WALTER ALLYN ROGERS

Beginning in 1968 a series of stained glass windows, designed and made by CHARLES J. CONNICK ASSOCIATES OF BOSTON, were installed at St. James Church, Dover Plains, beginning with the "Welcoming Christ" over the Altar. In 1969 the windows at the West end of the Nave of St. James, and above the Shield of St. James, were in place. In 1970 the windows in the Narthex of Prayer and Thanksgiving and the Sanctuary Window of the Virgin Mary were in place.

Mr. Orrin Skinner, President of Charles J. Connick Associates described the window of St. James: ."..St. James carries the pilgrim's staff and gourd, and holds the satchel or purse that is also identified with his travels. The thunderbolt recalls Our Lord's reference to James and his brother, John as "the Sons of Thunder". The ship and water symbols are related to St. James' calling, as well as the Anchor Cross above - symbol of Faith and Hope. The scallop shell is the symbol for St. James and enriches the ruby border of the windows and forms the motif for the shield of St. James.

In the Spring of 1972 measures of the chancel were sent to Rosetta Larsen in New York with the suggestion that the symbols of the St. James window be used for a rug or set of rugs for the chancel and sanctuary of the Church.

On May 2, 1972, Miss Larsen sent her consulting artist, Carl Lela, to Dover Plains and he spent a day checking the measurements, symbols and colors of the window.

On September 2, 1972, some 18 square yards of canvas for needlepointing and 85 pounds of wool were delivered to the Vicarage from Miss Larsen's studio.

Memorial gifts in memory of NATHALIE BONTECOU ROGERS, who entered eternal life September 24, 1972, covered the cost of the materials, and St. James Episcopal Churchwomen and Mrs. Horace Glidden Hufcut generously made gifts for the blocking and putting together of the sections, and the lining thereof.

The first section of the rug, for the Sanctuary, five feet by eight feet, with a central motif of the Holy Spirit was finished and placed on the first anniversary of Mrs. Rogers death, September 24, 1973. The altar rail cushions, five feet by ten inches, with St. James' symbols were placed December, 1973. The chancel section of the rug with the shield of St. James, seven feet by nine feet was placed on May 17, 1974 and blessed by the Right Reverend Paul Moore, Jr., The Bishop of New York, on his Visitation of June 9, 1974. The choir rug, six feet by nine feet, with the various symbols of St. James as central motifs was finished and placed November 22. 1974.