In medieval Western Europe, the Christian church faced a significant challenge: it possessed a book filled with teachings and stories, yet the populace was largely uneducated and illiterate. How could priests convey biblical narratives to an audience that couldn’t read beyond their weekly sermons? The solution emerged, which is our highlight of the week in Minecraft PE – stained glass.
Engineers collaborated with artists to create vast and intricate stained glass windows for churches, depicting the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. Images from manuscripts were meticulously transferred onto glass, enabling priests to visually narrate the lives of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and other figures. While today we recognize the artistic value of stained glass, it’s clear that back then, it served as a close parallel to what we now consider binge-watching on Netflix. Er, in a way.
Stained glass was introduced in Minecraft version 1.7.2 in 2013, alongside numerous new biomes and structures, fresh colors and types of wood, as well as clownfish. It is crafted by mixing any dye color with regular glass at a crafting table, and like standard glass, it can be converted into panes if desired. Additionally, similar to ordinary glass, colored glass can easily break accidentally. Curse my clumsy hands!
In version 1.8, stained glass was updated to allow it to change the color of beacons and support torches, while version 1.9 introduced purple glass used as windows in End cities. So, if you happen to dislike crafting (why play Minecraft PE at all??), you can simply collect it. Just like regular pane glass in Minecraft Pocket Edition, colored glass can only be broken using a tool enchanted with Silk Touch; otherwise, it will be lost forever.
The process of making stained glass in the real world is far more complex than in the realm of MCPE. During production, either coloring agents known as “salts” are added to molten glass, or the glass is tinted and then fired in a kiln. Nevertheless, this created glass endures remarkably well—many windows made for churches during medieval times remain intact, unlike the books that inspired them, which have long since decayed. Perhaps we should consider making books out of stained glass? Hey, that’s a million-dollar idea! Please don’t steal it.
Stained glass isn’t just for adorning churches; it enjoys popularity in the Middle East, where it can be found in mosques and synagogues. You can also see it in places like banks, restaurants, hotels, and train stations. Artists craft sculptures from it, and you might even find it in some homes. Do you have stained glass in your house? If not, where’s the nearest place you can find it?
