News Release
“The Sermon on the Mount” Stained Glass Unveiled at Southern Virginia University
On Tuesday, March 11, the campus community, university friends, and special guests gathered in the Main Hall Ballroom for the unveiling ceremony of the stained glass “Sermon on the Mount,” generously donated to the university by the Brent and Bonnie Jean Beesley family.
“Let this not only be a beautiful piece of art, but a reminder of our charge to be a light for someone else,” said President Bonnie H. Cordon. “This beautiful rendition of the Sermon on the Mount now sits on this hill and will be alive to all who enter here. It will be a vocation for students, faculty, and friends who come to rest and feel the love of our Savior.”
Standing nearly 13 feet tall and 16 feet wide, “The Sermon on the Mount” was created by Alexander S. Locke in 1915 for a small church in Massachusetts. Locke is best known for his stained glass and murals, which have been painted for churches, including the St. Augustine Church in New York and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Massachusetts.
“The Sermon on the Mount” highlights Locke’s interest in the Gothic Revival esthetics that emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries and was inspired by the medieval Gothic style,” said Professor of Art Barbara Crawford, who shared the history of Locke and the piece’s design. “Locke used colors, compositions, and attention to detail in the depiction of Christ. One important example is the way the Savior’s face is highlighted, drawing our attention to it. The intricate texture of the glass is created through the use of the technique where the glass is manipulated and folded, creating the three-dimensional effect, particularly on the people.”
When the church building was later repurposed, the piece was sold to an antique company, where Brent Beesley discovered and purchased it. After Beesley donated the glass and all restoration and installation costs to the university three years ago, Southern Virginia partnered with Raynal Studios in Natural Bridge, Virginia, for its restoration, where the 1000s of pieces of glass were meticulously disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled.
“I remember when I saw it at that antique store. It wasn’t nearly as beautiful as it is now,” said Brent Beesley. “And I thought, ‘I’d like to give that to this university where people do believe in Christ, and where it can be a gift that will last through and impact future generations that will come here.”
“Raynal Studios used the most advanced and appropriate techniques on this piece while maintaining the original complexity of the art,” said Provost James Lambert. “This restoration method, coupled with custom framing, provides the structure necessary for the glass to withstand any natural shifting or setting. We are so grateful to partner with Raynal Studios on this project and for their great dedication to the preservation of the arts.”
The event opened with the Chamber Singers singing “High on a Mountaintop,” and featured a musical performance of “Savior, Redeemer” by professors Dallyn Vail Bayles, Megan Mason, and Hyrum Arnesen. After the program, those in attendance moved to the Main Hall lobby, where President Cordon and Beesley unveiled the piece.
Special guests in attendance included university founders Glade and Kathleen Knight, Emeritus President Reed N. Wilcox, and Raynal Studios owner John Raynal and his wife.
