AGTS Building Tour: The William J. Seymour Chapel

The William J. Seymour Chapel

The chapel at AGTS is a room full of beauty, as befits a place we gather for worship (learn about chapel services at AGTS).

The William J. Seymour chapel is named in honor of the African-American leader of the 1906 Azusa Street revival.

Stained Glass

One of the chapel's most striking features is the large stained-glass window in the William J. Seymour Chapel. The dominant cross reminds us of the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Behind the cross is a circle, an ancient symbol of the Godhead, from which rays of light stream to pervade the universe with God's glorious presence. Fiery ribbons, representative of the work of the Holy Spirit in creation, revelation, and renewal, reach out to encircle planet earth, also prominently featured, to remind us of God's fallen creatures on whose behalf He has issued a powerful missions mandate. One of the ribbons forms a dove, a biblical symbol of the Spirit. The ribbons encircle the earth with changing colors depicting the spectrum of the light and God's infinite creative power. In the cross are 12 small circles representing the apostles who, in their foundational role, speak of the church in the redeeming and creative work of the Triune God. The one clear circle on the left represents either Mathias or the Apostle Paul. The three on top represent Peter, James and John. Praying hands reach up from earth as redeemed humankind offer to God their prayerful intercession.

There are also two side windows. One highlights William J. Seymour and the Azusa Street Mission. The other features Mrs. Alice Flower, the wife of J. Roswell Flower, the first General Secretary of the Assemblies of God. "Mother" Flower was an outstanding teacher. She had excellent journalistic skills and edited a weekly magazine The Gospel Witness, which ultimately became the Pentecostal Evangel. She is honored as a pioneer, a writer, a great mother and a deeply spiritual and influential person in the kingdom of God. The stained glass windows were donated by the Ohio District Council of the Assemblies of God and were designed by Binns Stained Glass.

Updated: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:30 AM