Most people would identify a circular window at any Church as a rose window, taking its name from the circular shaped windows at Notre Dame in Paris. However, the circular window at our parish is actually a St. Catherine’s window. So, what is it exactly?

        The St. Catherine’s window is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a saint who was martyred in 305 AD. The Emperor Maxentius of Rome began what would later be called the Diocletianic Persecutions which would last from 303-311 AD. St. Catherine decided to visit the emperor and denounce his actions. As a result of her faithfulness to Christ, Maxentius ordered for her execution on a device called a breaking wheel. The breaking wheel was used for public execution. Torturers would tie a criminal to a spiked wagon wheel and break their bones until they died. It is believed that when St. Catherine touched the wheel, a miracle occurred and the wheel shattered. After the miracle, the emperor had her beheaded instead.

        There are some notable details of the St. Catherine’s window at our parish. First is the big cross in the middle, representing the cross and the position St. Catherine would have been in during her execution. The inner quarters of stained glass are what I would view as people praying before the cross. There is twelve of these, which could refer to the twelve Apostles. The outer stained glass appears to be small Celtic crosses. When the present Church building was constructed around 120 years ago, the parish mostly contained Irish immigrants, many of whom came over from St. Mary’s in the center of Taunton. Hence, Celtic crosses were likely included to appeal to the Irish populations at the time.