Stained Glass at Faith Evangelical Church
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
If you travel down Franklin Street toward the Highlands, you may have noticed the striking stained glass windows of Faith Evangelical Church. The green church at the corner of Franklin and Albion Streets is home to the former Highland Baptist Church, a building rich in Melrose history.
Look closely at the peak on the eastern (chancel) end of the church, and you’ll spot a truly special detail: a stained-glass American flag that appears to blow in the breeze.
According to Goss’s The History of Melrose (page 106), this “handsome American Flag Window” was installed in 1895, when the building was under construction. It is dedicated “ In memory of the soldiers who gave their lives for their country”. The window belongs to the people of Melrose and is our first war memorial. It was funded through a patriotic concert held in December of that year, reflecting the great civic pride of the Melrose community.
This American flag window is far more than decorative. It stands as a memorial of remembrance and gratitude, highlighting how Melrose honored local service and sacrifice through stained glass during the post–Civil War era.
More than a century later, it remains a quiet but powerful symbol of history, patriotism, and community spirit.
