Many of our Westford Churches have memorial stained glass windows. During the next year let’s explore them and the people they have been dedicated to.
From: Our Church Heritage Articles about the history of the United Methodist Church of Westford
By Robert W. Oliphant
The most visible of the memorial windows is the large triple window behind the altar that was given in memory of Allan Cameron Sargent. Mr. Sargent was born 24 September 1859 in Graniteville, the youngest son of Charles G. Sargent. Allan Sargent graduated from Westford Academy in 1876 and from M.I.T. in 1881. At the age of 19 he became associated with C. G. Sargent’s Sons Corp. He worked in the various departments of this textile machinery manufacturing company until he turned 21 when he became a partner in the company. In 1904 when the company was incorporated, he became its president; he was also president of the Graniteville Foundry Co. He lived at 29 North Main Street, Graniteville.
Mr. Sargent was married three times. In 1885 he married Eva E. Minter, by whom he had a son, James Minter Sargent b. 25 February 1887. Eva died of tuberculosis in Denver where she had gone with the hope of restoring her health. In 1896 Mr. Sargent married Eva’s sister, Elizabeth S. Minter; they were the daughters of James & Etilerit (Roberts) Minter of Lowell. Mr. Minter was president of the American Bolt Co. Elizabeth died in 1931. In 1935 Mr. Sargent married Katharine M. Mackinnon. She died in Marblehead in 1962.
Mr. Sargent was a member of the First Corps of Cadets of Boston, the Lowell Historical Society, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, the Yankee Post of the American Ordinance Association, the M.I.T. Alumni Association (where he was its oldest member), and Vesper Country Club. His obituary says that “he was always interested in many worthy causes
and was a staunch supporter of the Graniteville Methodist church, founded by his father.” He died on 3 March 1952, and funeral services were held from his home on 8 March with Rev. Edward W. Pfluke, pastor of our church, officiating. He is buried in the family mausoleum in Lowell Cemetery. His estate included a trust fund for our church.
The central image in Mr. Sargent’s memorial window is that of Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18), perhaps chosen to remember Mr. Sargent and his company for their many acts of kindness and generosity in support of our church, the Sargent School, and the people of Graniteville. The central image is flanked on the left with a white dove carrying an olive branch, a sign of hope from the story of Noah and the flood (Genesis 8:8-12). The Good Shepherd is flanked on the right by a white cross over a palm branch. The palm branch is a symbol of nationalism and royalty, when the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as their king (Matthew 21:8; John 12:12-13), but the road into Jerusalem led instead to the cross. We see the empty cross as prominent, lying above the palm, reminding us of Jesus’ victory over death.
Allan Cameron Sargent, Westford Academy, 1876.
(Photo courtesy of the Westford Museum)