The Chapel
of the Nativity was given by the Constable family, founders of the
Arnold Constable department store formerly as Fortieth Street and
Fifth Avenue. The windows and the altarpiece were purchased from
a private family chapel in England. The windows were made by the
C. E. Kemp Company, one of the oldest glassmaking firms in England.
(These windows are actually 100 years older than the parish itself.)
The altar depicts the Last Supper in high relief. The windows feature
Christmas themes: the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, the Annunciation
to the shepherds, and the revelation of Christ's birth to the world.
The mosaic floors depict the names of the Messiah from Isaiah 9:6:
Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace. The railing above the chapel bears carved
oak statues of Saint James the Less, Saint Matthew, Christ, Saint
Paul, and Saint Polycarp, an early church bishop. |
