Construction of Claflin University's James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel was completed during the spring 2007 semester, but finishing touches were installed just months ago.

Craftsmen from Statesville Stained Glass, in Statesville, N.C., made, delivered and installed the bea.jpgul, specially designed stained glass windows to the chapel in late October. The windows were created by nationally renowned artist and Claflin graduate Dr. Leo Twiggs, at the request of Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale.

"Dr. Tisdale ... wanted a design expressive of the African and African-American cultural experience," Twiggs said. "He did not want realistic images. He wanted an abstract design rather than realistic, and for me, that was so important."

Tisdale told Twiggs he wanted the chapel to be a place for everyone and appeal to the diverse make-up of the university, Twiggs said.

Dr. Jimmy Montgomery, former Claflin chaplain and current campus minister of philosophy and religion, said the chapel stands as a symbol of faith within the university community.

"I was in awe of the sanctuary and the holy spirit value the windows brought to the chapel," he said. "It invites us to come into the chapel to experience God's presence and grace."

To gather ideas for the windows, Twiggs said he performed Internet research and looked at several pieces of African sculpture and Kente cloth from his son's stay in Ghana, Africa.

"I began preparing for the designs by researching African textiles designs," he said. "(Claflin art professor) Dr. (Kod) Igwe's textiles were also very helpful." Twiggs also looked to his grandmother's quilt for colors and design.

There are seven side windows and two rose, or circular, windows -- one at the front of the building at balcony level and the other in the rear above the choir loft, Twiggs said.

The rose window above the stage, a gift from Tisdale and his wife, Alice, was the last of the windows to be installed.

"The president and his wife compliment each other in a very special way," said Twiggs, who used the couple as inspiration for the pattern and colors incorporated in the rose window. "I tried to interpret their personalities with the colors that represent them."

The side windows mirror each other on each side. They begin dark and dramatic at the back of the chapel, and as you approach the front, the colors become lighter, Twiggs said.

"I'm just so pleased to have it come out as well as it did," he said. "People tell me all the time that those windows are going to be part of my legacy. I think, more importantly, those windows will represent the legacy of Dr. Tisdale."

Twiggs said for Tisdale to step outside the box and want something different speaks volumes about his leadership, foresight and ingenuity.

"It's the kind of reason behind why Claflin has reached such great heights during his presidency," he said.

After seeing pictures of the chapel's windows online, a committee from a church in Washington, D.C., contacted Twiggs and asked him to design 10 windows for its sanctuary. He has also designed a stained glass rose window for the new sanctuary of Orangeburg's New Mount Zion Baptist Church, located at the corner of Boulevard and Amelia streets. That window is also being made by Statesville Stained Glass and will be installed when it is completed.

The James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A hour-long worship service is held each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

T&D Features Writer Candace Newson can be reached by e-mail at cnewson@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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