Installed: 1920

Memorial name: Estabrook Memorial Window
Dedicated to: Arthur Frederic Estabrook (1847-1919)

Donor: Ida Florence Fletcher Estabrook (wife)

Location: Right balcony

In this depiction of the fifth beatitude, “Blessed Are the Merciful,” a fiercely vigilant angel looks upwards while breaking a sword against her raised knee. She is garbed in shades of red and orange – unusual colors both for an angel and for the Tiffany palette. Unnatural tones of blue radiate from her face, and the skin of the accompanying cherubs is a purplish hue, as if all three characters are being threatened by an ominous cloud. The cherubs cower in fear and cling to her protective body.

This window is dedicated to finance executive, Arthur Frederick Estabrook (1847-1919). Estabrook entered the employ of the Boston banking firm of Brewster, Sweet & Company as a boy and became the senior member of the nationally prominent firm which eventually changed its name to Estabrook & Company. Estabrook was also quite active in Boston’s civic life serving in leadership roles at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Hospital, the General Theological Library, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Botanic Garden of Harvard University, the Museum of Fine Arts, and The Bostonian Society.

Glenn Kulbako Photography

Frederick Wilson sketched this unconventional interpretation as part of his 1905 series of presentation drawings for Arlington Street Church. The stained glass rendering is quite faithful to Wilson’s original concept despite the 15-year gap between the window’s design and glazing.