General Arrangement of Windows
Note: Arabic numbers shown below in parentheses refer to key numbers on the location diagram.
Altogether St. Timothy's has sixty-seven stained glass windows (or thirty·five if the largest windows on the north and south walls be considered to include the small windows beneath them) - either way, a large number for a parish church. Nearly all the windows were crafted in Ireland by the Harry Clarke firm, now defunct. Three newer ones (57, 58, and 59) were done in Los Angeles.
From casual inspection it may appear that the window subjects were chosen at random. Actually, however, definite patterns exist:
The sixteen largest windows depict the mysteries of the rosary (1 through 15) and the Holy Family (16). The rectangular emblems on these windows refer most often to titles in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin; the rest symbolize other aspects of the lives of Jesus or Mary.
Beneath these large windows, the small ones show Old Testament personages (17 through 32) on the south wall of the church and New Testament figures (33 through 46) plus two recent saints (47 and 48) on the north wall.
In the sanctuary, the three windows on the south show Irish saints (49 through 51); those on the north show St. Paul flanked by two of his disciples, one being St. Timothy, patron of the parish (52 through 54).
Next, on the south wall, two windows recall the New World appearance of the Virgin and the efforts of the Franciscan missionaries in California (55 and 56). These windows and windows (59, 60, 64, 65) on the opposite wall honor individuals significant to all Catholics and particularly to those of the New World and this archdiocese.
High in the east wall of the church, the large circular rose-type window depicts the symbols of the four evangelists (67). Saints are often shown with personal emblems (or symbols) by which they may be identified, such as the breast medallion for St. Jude. General symbols include palm fronds for martyrs and lilies for virgins. St. Timothy is represented four times in his church - once in a window (54), once in a painting, twice in statues.
Note: Key numbers below refer to numbers on the location diagram.