NARRAGANSETT — In his few years in the Diocese of Providence, Father Vijay Kiran, a native of India, has learned a lifetime of information about St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett. A skilled researcher and church archivist, who carries three master’s degrees in commerce, library and information science and Christian studies, as well as three Ph.D.s, Father Kiran put his talents into type to prepare his new book “Stained Glass Windows of St. Thomas More Church.”
His book shares the church’s history, biblical details and symbols etched in glass that perhaps have remained hidden in plain sight from those in the pews for decades. Having the chance to tell the history of the stained glass in this way, Father Kiran, who serves as assistant pastor, said is an opportunity to wake parishioners up to their past.
“People said to me, ‘we’ve been coming to this church for several decades and we never gave a thought to the glass and the details. We would say ‘oh what beautiful stained glass’ and then we would walk away,’” Father Kiran recalled.
“When we open up our eyes to see the details of every glass, people start appreciating the art in the church. I explain the details and symbols, because people may have seen that and did not know the significance of it. People received the book very well and were very happy. They all said an ‘Indian has come to write the book,’” he said laughing. “Some of the people wanted the books for their families or for their children as a gift for Christmas.”
Father Marcel Taillon, the pastor at the church, shared that Father Kiran’s arrival came at the perfect time, as the parish celebrated its 100th year of ministry in 2017. In the book, he shares his gratitude to Father Kiran for helping parishioners travel back in time so that they can move forward in their faith.
“His love and appreciation, coupled with precise research and effort, has resulted in this little but significant book that reveals to us the story of Christ Jesus and those that have gone before us who have made sure our mother church was a place of solemnity amidst a heavenly presence,” Father Taillon wrote in the foreword.
Being new to both the United States and to the parish, Father Kiran said that learning about the history of the seaside church was both “fascinating and heart throbbing.”
“In the process of seeking and researching information, I have come to befriend many people and parishioners. It all began on that day, September 5, 2015, when I entered St. Thomas More Church for the first time and was attracted by the stained glass windows. My only hope is that you can enjoy the beauty of these windows as much as I do and give praise to the artist and glory to God on high,” he writes in his book.
When possible, he also explains the stories of those who generously donated the glass, some in memory of loved ones. On page 42, he shares that Dr. John A. Bolster, M.D., gifted the door and transom in memory of his son Richard who died from pneumonia as a young boy. Father Kiran’s research discovered that Dr. Bolster also wrote a large check to help clear the parish of all its debts during the pastorate of Msgr. Matthew F. Clarke.
Father Kiran’s diverse education prepared him in creating this book. His doctoral research was centered on “Information Management of Church Archives in India” which included a thesis that was the first of its kind on conserving church archives in the South Asian country. Father Kiran shared that Indian methods of maintaining the 300 years’ worth of church documents is so difficult due to high temperatures and facilities with no air conditioning. He began his studies in library science with a Ph.D. in archives to keep learning as much as he could.
“When I was working in the church as a pastor in India, the church was very, very old with dilapidated condition a Romanesque style architecture and so I did a lot of studies on that building and then restored it to the original glory. Later I took a course that motivated me to write the second thesis, my Ph.D. on conservation of church architecture and artifacts, which included stained glass, vestments, books and statues.”
It was then that he learned about stained glass and continued his studies in its history and restoration.
Skilled not only in research, but also in photography, Father Kiran captured his own images for the book, with the assistance of parishioners Bryan Pringles, Ken Cafaro, and Stacey Longo who helped with the book’s design. Father Kiran even climbed 20-foot-high to photograph the gabled-style dormer windows on both northern and southern sides of the church.
“The images depict the Christological symbols in the shield design. These dormer panels inspire visitors and the congregation alike,” writes Father Kiran.
In his book he also shares details on the life of the parish patron, Saint Thomas More, as well as Saint Philomena as the church was first founded as a mission chapel in 1890 under the name “St. Philomena Church, Narragansett Pier.” He also pays tribute to John O’Duggan of Boston who designed and crafted the stained glass.
“I love the beauty of the artist — the artist’s imagination and the beauty of the colors that he has introduced,” said he said. “The striking vibrant colors and the features are very, very good.”
Father Kiran explained that stained glass was considered “a poor man’s Bible” in the 12th century when there were no print Bibles. The priest would tour the church explaining each one — the figures and biblical history, about Mary, Joseph and the saints. It became popular so that artists were commissioned to depict the life of Jesus and of the Old Testament as well.
It is important for the parish community to think about its history in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the church for future generations, Father Kiran shared.
“These artifacts — the church buildings or the stained glass — project the faith of the past generations and that can motivate the present and the future to carry on in their faith,” he said.
To order a book for yourself or as a gift, please mail a check to or contact: Rev. Vijay Kiran, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett, RI 02882, 594-7645, frvijaykiran@gmail.com.
