By Washington National Cathedral
Designed by Rodney Winfield (1925-2017)
The Space Window (1973/1977) by Rodney Winfield (1925-2017)Washington National Cathedral
The Space Window is perhaps the Cathedral's best-known window. Dominated by large circles, the window gives the impression of staring into the void of space.
At the bottom of the window, an inscription quotes the biblical book of Job: "Is not God in the height of Heaven?"
Given by Dr. Thomas Paine, a former administrator of NASA, the window was to honor the scientists and technicians who made possible the Apollo 11 moon landing in July of 1969.
Completed in 1973, the window was dedicated the following year in the presence of Apollo 11 astronauts.
The dedication of the Space Window was held on the fifth anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission on July 21, 1974.
At the dedication, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins presented a piece of moon rock to the Cathedral, but the rock was not installed in the Space Window until 1977, when construction of the Cathedral nave was completed.
The Space Window (2018) by Washington National Cathedral and Rodney WinfieldWashington National Cathedral
Placed at the center of the wide red circle at the top of the window, the priceless extraterrestrial relic continues to fascinate countless visitors.
Space Window at Night (1973) by Rodney WinfieldWashington National Cathedral
Less known about the Cathedral's Space Window is that the artist, Rodney Winfield, submitted no fewer than 12 designs before the one everyone knows and loves was chosen.
Originally, there were three requirements for the design – at least one human figure, a spaceship with exhaust flares, and three scenes illustrating the exploration of space - all of which were gradually dropped, as both the artist and the Cathedral staff discussed the design versions and how best to capture the concept of space.
The Cathedral clerk in charge of the commission, Canon Richard Feller, was seeking thematic consistency between this new window and those that would be adjacent to it, focusing on people who praised God through their earthly accomplishments. Winfield, the artist, was more interested in conveying a sense of the mysterious immenseness of God’s universe.
The artist kept submitting new designs. The 9th version was met with enthusiasm from both the donor, Dr. Paine, former head of NASA, and the Cathedral’s Dean, Francis B. Sayre, Jr. At this late stage, both were still intent on having an astronaut depicted in the window's design.
In January of 1971, the artist submitted two more designs, both without a human figure. He explained that the goal of capturing the universe’s immensity wouldn’t allow the inclusion of a human figure given considerations of scale. “I feel the figure’s elimination is a tour de force of the subject,” he said. “I was led to this decision rather than consciously plotting it.”
Design Version 12 (1971) by Rodney WinfieldWashington National Cathedral
The Cathedral presented the 12th and final design version to the Building Committee, which approved it. The donor, Dr. Paine, ultimately also accepted the absence of a human figure in the design. He appreciated the sense that “this is God’s creation, not man’s.”
As the artist suggested, with windows on either side featuring human figures, this figure-less window acts “as a dramatic pause in the sense that here man is relegated to the implied, while God takes on the most important position.” A half century after its dedication, the window’s final design – complete with the moon rock from the Apollo 11 astronauts – provides a sense of the mystery and vastness of the universe.
