In memory of his wife and her sister, Blanche Stockard Hooker by Octavius Wright Hooker & Eunice Stockard Hooker; In memory of their daughter, Brenda Adeline Sharpe by Mr. & Mrs. Homer N. Sharpe; In memory of her husband and his father, Howard Hart Turner by Mrs. Howard Hart Turner & Thomas Turner

With the installation of the window in the balcony, which was dedicated at the Thirtieth Anniversary Service on December 11, 1966, Hayes Barton completed the proclamation of the Gospel in stained glass within the sanctuary. The window was executed of the finest quality hand-blown English antique glass by J. Whipple & Company, Ltd. of Exeter, England.

The three-paneled window depicts the important event of the passing of street preaching in Bristol, England from George Whitefield to John and Charles Wesley. The scene is April 2, 1739 when in Bristol, John Wesley preached in the open air for the first time in his ministry. The setting is a brickyard, and the cone-shaped objects nearby are brick kilns. Brick is also seen in the street. In the center window a ship is pictured at the upper left to convey the fact that the area was near the harbor. Gabled houses are seen in the background at the upper right.

Wesley is pictured holding his “field Bible”, which he regularly carried for his outdoor preaching. To the left of this scene is the Coat of Arms of Christ Church, Oxford, where both John and Charles Wesley were educated, and on the right the Arms of Pembroke, Oxford, where George Whitefield was educated.

By this time in his life, John Wesley had realized that the Gospel needed to be brought to all the people who would listen to the message, no matter their location, education, or economic condition—a very radical idea for that time. From 1739 until the end of his life he traveled, sometimes on foot or horseback, and in his later years by carriage, bringing the Gospel to all who would hear. Though considered founder of the Methodist Church, he remained a member of the Anglican Church until his death in 1791.

The historical authenticity of the portrayal was insured by reference to Buck’s engraving of Bristol at that period. Dr. Frank L. Baker, noted Wesley authority and scholar of Duke University, examined the original drawing for accuracy.