We Bought a Church: Idea for the Stained Glass Windows

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Idea for the Stained Glass Windows

We are removing the stained glass windows to work on them one at a time. Because each takes a long time, it will be years at this rate before we can install real glass windows on the outsides. So hubby suggested that next summer or so, we just remove all the stained glass ones at once, install the glass outside windows, and take our time putting the stained glass ones back in.

Each window comes with five glass panels and a bunch of tricky wooden frame bits, which we need to keep straight. Hubby had the idea of putting a folding table in front of each window. As we take each apart, we can lay it out on the table and keep ourselves organized. Since the floor in the sanctuary is unfinished, we can just work right there, restoring the glass, sanding down the wooden parts, and rebuilding and refitting them. But since we're not there often, it may take a decade if we do all the work on site. We may have to transport portions home to work on there.

Removing the windows leaves a gap that lets in lots of clean light but also lots of cold. There is currently plexiglass on the outside of each window, but it isn't much protection from the elements, so I've made a window-shaped pillow of fluffy pink insulation between two sheets of heavy plastic. This fills in the space where the stained glass used to be.

After we installed it in the gap, Hubby stood back and considered it for a moment, then told me to go get a Sharpie pen.

"Why?"

"So you can sketch a Madonna and Child on the plastic, so it looks more like a window."

It made me giggle. It would be a lot cheaper if we just installed plain glass windows and painted them with glass paints and markers. My head immediately filled with visions of "Group of Seven"-style paintings on the windows, with northern scenes of rocks and wind-sculpted pine trees and vivid sunsets over lakes.

Depending on how successfully restoration goes, that may be my Plan B!