Bellshill Central Parish Church is extremely fortunate to have many beautiful stained glass windows.
The four central windows were gifted by Matthew Corbett, in memory of his son Sergeant James Brownlie Corbett of the Royal Air Force, who was shot down and killed over Holland on 26 May 1943. These windows were designed and fitted by the Abbey Studio probably designed by JA Crombie. They were dedicated on 7 October 1962.
The third window on east, or left, side as you enter from main door displays some of the Miracles of Jesus and is designed and executed by the Abbey Studios.
At the top, on the left side of the window, Alpha and Omega can be seen with Jesus sitting below, dressed in a red robe, breaking a loaf of bread. A small boy dressed in blue is sitting alongside with four other loaves and there are two fish lying on the ground.
Below that, Jesus can again be seen; this time with his arms raised. Two men are at his feet, one with a walking stick and the other with his eyes closed; perhaps blind. The words around this picture say, ‘The prayer, faith, shall save the sick,’ which is a reference to James 5; 15 where it says, ‘And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.’
Other people in the crowd are seen at the bottom of the right window frame; two men on their knees, a man and woman with a baby and a boy, another man sitting with his eyes closed.
This well-known story appears in all four Gospels. In John 6 (page 124 of the Pew Bible), we read:
Verse 2 – ‘A large crowd followed him because they had seen his miracles of healing those who were ill’
Verse 9 – ‘There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But they will certainly not be enough for all these people’
Verse 11 – Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God and distributed it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish and they all had as much as they wanted.
The story continues at the top of the right side of the window where a boat can be seen with Christ walking on the water and taking Peter’s hand when he starts to sink. See Matthew 14, verse 22-32 (page 22 of the Pew Bible):
Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake while he sent the people away. After that he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves. Between 3 and 6 in the morning Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water. When they saw this, they were terrified. Jesus said at once, ‘Courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Peter said, ‘Lord if it really is you, order me to come out on the water to you.’ Jesus said, ‘Come!’ So, Peter started walking on the water towards Jesus but when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he cried. So, Jesus grabbed hold of him and said, ‘How little faith you have! Why did you doubt?’ They both got into the boat and the disciples worshipped Jesus. ‘Truly you are the Son of God!’
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 