Read Matt 19:13-15; Prov.
22:6: Is. 11:6, Matt 18: 1-6; 19:13-15 Give thanks for the life of
Charlotte B. Bancroft who was tireless in her good works for the mill
people of the community. "By their fruits ye shall know
them" Matt 7:15-20. Are you known by your fruits? Meditate about
what the subject of children means to you. In whatever capacity you
are involved with them, are you following Christ's example of treating
them with love? Your own children? The children of your community? The
children of the U.S.? The children of the world? How can you make a
difference in a world where children are dying from hunger and
despair? Pray for the children of this world.
Below
the center of the window the plaque reads: "This window is
dedicated to The Glory of God and in memory of Charlotte Bothwell
Bancroft, 1858 - 1927." It was given by John
Bancroft and dedicated on March 9, 1930. On the right there is a
smaller plaque which reads. "In memory of Pauline Bancroft Chadwick
1885 - 1969." She was his niece. Mrs. Bancroft
was born in 1858 and died in 1927. Her ancestors were Scottish
shepherds. She was orphaned at an early
age and raised by grandparents. She was known for her tireless work
among the mill people. Originally done in watercolors, the window cost
$8,000 and contains 18,000 pieces of glass. The text for the window is
Luke 18:16: "Suffer the little children to come unto me..." It is
decorated at the top with guardian angels
and stars. Around the edge are tulips and carnations, Mrs. Bancroft's
favorite flowers. The scene is one of peaceful reverence. In it
children and their elders are bringing tributes (gifts from their
hands) to Jesus. Included in the gifts are five sheep (Schoonover said
he was the black one). The female figure is suggestive of Mrs.
Bancroft. On the right are St. Joseph as a carpenter, Ruth the
gleaner, and an artisan holding a model of Solomon's temple. As in the
fishermen window, Jesus' halo is designed to pick up the least ray of
light. In the predellas the theme is the life of the Wilmington mill
people, depicting everyday scenes familiar to Mrs. Bancroft. In the
left predella is Ivy Road around 1830, representative of homes of the
Bancroft working people. Schoonover copied portions of Mr. William
Chadwick's painting of Ivy Road. The Brandywine River can be seen in
the background. Next right is an old Bancroft mill with the water
wheel used to operate the looms. Workers wearing 1840 costumes are
returning from work In the farthest to the right, covered wagons are
taking finished cloth to the railroad at the
foot of French Street, where it was shipped to
major
cities.
