Stained glass windows have become a part of all gothic churches. Stained glass windows are glass that is cooled and as it takes in the light from the outside, it glows on the inside. Stained glass is exactly what it says, glass that can be colored or stained. When the glass in stained with different colors the light that we see does not glow white as we see on a sunny day but it glows with a hint of color because it is passing through light. Think about this. When you were younger learning your shapes, one of them was a prism. The clear prism produced a rainbow like effect when you held it to a light source showing you the different colors that the white light could produce. The same colors that the white light can produce are emphasized when the light is passed through already colored glass. Color is painted onto the glass and then pushed into the glass to make the glass itself the color of the paint. Stained glass windows requires a lot of patience to create because it takes time to make the designs just right so that it is depicted right. Unlike any other art, stain glass is one of the most prestigious because not everyone can do it. Its rarity makes you appreciate it more because it is not often seen. The time that is put into making these windows makes them just that much more beautiful.
Stained glass windows became a distinctive piece for the gothic churches and cathedrals. Stained glass windows ranged from different sizes to different designs. The main purpose of these windows were to bring light into the cathedrals. Because Gothic architecture is so heavy, the beauty of the windows would lighten the room so to speak. Another purpose for the windows was to make the heavy, massive roofs look not as heavy by taking the attention off of the heavy roofs to something more weightless. The light that would pass through the windows also had spiritual significance. It would direct the light to a central part of the cathedrals bringing the focus to God....