What Are the Colorful Windows in Churches Called? A Beginner’s Guide to Sacred Glass Art

Key Takeaways

✔ Colorful windows in churches are called stained glass windows, commonly seen in churches to add color, light, and meaning to sacred spaces.

✔ Stained glass began in medieval Europe and evolved over centuries as both a religious tool and a form of art.

✔ Making stained glass involves cutting colored glass, assembling it with lead cames, and often adding painted details by hand.

✔ Stained glass is still used today in both churches and public spaces, with many efforts focused on preserving and restoring historic windows

Stained glass windows have long been one of the most striking features in churches and cathedrals. These colorful designs do more than just decorate—they tell stories, inspire reflection, and fill sacred spaces with light and meaning. For those curious about what are the colorful windows in churches called, or how these beautiful pieces came to be, this beginner-friendly guide breaks it all down in simple terms. 

From their history and symbolism to how they’re made and where they’re used today, here are the essentials of sacred glass art.

What Are These Windows Called?

When people ask, “what are the colorful windows in churches called,” the answer is stained glass windows. Stained glass windows are the colorful windows often seen in churches, cathedrals, and other religious buildings. They are made by combining small pieces of colored glass to create decorative or pictorial designs. 

Common Associations With Stained Glass Windows

Stained glass in churches is often linked with religion, art, and history. These connections help explain why stained glass became such an important part of church architecture.

• Christianity: Stained glass windows were used to show scenes from the Bible. This helped people understand religious stories even if they couldn’t read.
• Gothic Architecture: Many large cathedrals built during the Gothic period used stained glass as a major design feature. The windows were tall, pointed, and filled with detailed images, often called cathedral stained glass windows.
• Art and Education: Beyond churches, stained glass became a form of public art. It taught moral lessons and showed important events from both history and religion.
• Light and Symbolism: Light passing through colored glass creates a spiritual feel inside the space. The use of light symbolized divine presence in many religious traditions.

Types of Stained Glass Windows

When looking at different churches, one might notice that not all stained glass windows look the same. There are several types, each with its own style and purpose.

• Figurative Windows: These show detailed images of people, usually saints, biblical figures, or religious events.

• Geometric Windows: These use patterns and shapes instead of images. They are common in older churches or in areas of a building with less focus on storytelling.
• Rose Windows: Large, circular windows often found at the front or back of cathedrals. They are filled with detailed scenes arranged in a radial pattern.
• Lancet Windows: Tall, narrow windows with a pointed arch at the top. These are a key feature of Gothic-style churches.

A Short History of Stained Glass

Stained glass windows aren’t just beautiful decorations—they tell stories, reflect faith, and add light in the most striking ways. While they’re often seen in cathedrals and chapels, stained glass can be used in many types of buildings, both sacred and modern. The art of stained glass—especially colored glass in churches—has a rich history that spans thousands of years, and each period brought its own techniques, themes, and style.

Early Days

The first known use of stained glass dates back to the time of the Romans and Egyptians. Back then, it wasn’t found in buildings but in small objects. The early stages of what would become cathedral stained glass windows were just starting to take form. 

In Britain, some of the earliest examples of stained glass in churches date back to the late 7th century. At the site of the Abbey of Monkwearmouth in Sunderland, England, fragments of colored window glass—green, blue, amber, and red—were discovered. Several of these pieces showed grozed edges, meaning they had been carefully trimmed to fit into window frames, suggesting early use in decorative church windows.

• Roman and Egyptian Origins: Colored glass was used in decorative items like cups and tiles, not windows yet, but the idea had begun.
• First British Examples: In the 600s, early churches in England used small, simple pieces of stained glass, often fitted into stone walls.

Medieval Glass

This was the golden era for stained glass. By the 12th century, it had become a true craft. The metal outlines, usually made of lead, framed beautifully colored glass that told biblical stories and celebrated saints.

• Chartres as a Glass Hub: Chartres, France, became the top place for stained glass creation. The glass made here was rich in color and carefully designed.
• Rose Windows: One of the most famous types of stained glass windows, these circular designs featured complex patterns and deep reds and blues. Chartres Cathedral still has one of the oldest examples.
• Used in Churches and Cathedrals: These windows weren’t just decorative—they educated the public about faith through visual storytelling. Anyone wondering what are the windows in a church called would learn that they were both art and lesson.

Renaissance

In the Renaissance, stained glass shifted in style, becoming more classical and detailed. While still widely used, this period also saw many church windows damaged or destroyed.

• Stylistic Change: Designs became softer and more influenced by paintings, with more human-like figures and balanced scenes.
• The Reformation’s Impact: Many religious images, including stained glass, were removed or smashed during this time. Plain glass replaced the once-colorful displays.
• Loss of Techniques: Due to destruction, many traditional methods of making stained glass were forgotten.

19th Century Revival

This era brought stained glass back in a big way. As people became interested in medieval architecture again, new churches were built with tall windows filled with religious images. Restoration projects also began, and stained glass became a valued art once more.

• Neo-Gothic Movement: Churches returned to Gothic styles, with tall arches and stained glass windows that echoed the past.
• Copied Artwork: When wondering what are the windows in a church called, it’s important to consider that some windows were based on famous paintings, combining fine art with traditional stained glass form.
• Religious Focus: These windows often showed scenes from the Bible, saints, or moral stories, echoing those from the Middle Ages.

Modern Glass

The 20th century introduced new materials, techniques, and ideas. Artists began to explore beyond religious themes, and stained glass appeared in all kinds of buildings.

• Gemmail Technique: Developed in the 1930s by artist Jean Crotti, this method used overlapping shards of colored glass illuminated from behind, creating a glowing, layered effect without the traditional lead framework.
• Abstract Designs: Windows in newer churches, like the Cathedral of Brasília in Brazil, used stained glass in bold, abstract forms with blue, green, and brown tones.
• Beyond Religion: Modern stained glass is found in schools, homes, offices, and museums—not just churches. While people still ask what are the windows in a church called, they now appear far beyond religious spaces.