church stained glass windows

You have stained glass windows in your church, your congregation is not only blessed with a beautiful piece of art, but also an important part of history. Stained glass windows have been a traditional part of church architecture for decades and continue to be incorporated into modern church designs today.

But where did worshipers get the idea to add stained glass to churches in the first place? How come stained glass windows show up in churches more often than another type of building?

An examination of the history of church stained glass shows us that these traditional works of art were used for more than just aesthetics. Stained glass windows had a very practical role in the church and continue to do so today.

Why Churches & Temples Have Stained Glass Windows

The use of stained glass for religious buildings can be documented back to the 7th century. During this time, people had begun to realize the benefits of stained glass and started building windows with colored glass to add to chapels and monasteries. Later, as the movement grew and spread, stained glass gained an all-time popularity with architects in Europe during the Middle Ages.

But what compelled people to use stained glass to create windows for churches and temples in the first place? What purpose did they serve? It turns out, there are a few practical reasons for using stained glass for windows.

Stained glass lets in natural light.
Light is an important symbol in many religions. It represents purity, the heavens, spirituality, and genesis. Naturally, windows were an important part of the church, so it’s not such a surprise that builders began playing with ways to enhance them. Stained glass provides a certain level of privacy that ordinary windows do not without blocking light transmission.

Stained glass shares important messages.

Stained glass windows were once used to educate people who could not read. By looking at the painted scenes in the glass, people could learn about the stories of the Bible and religious teachings. Today, stained glass continues to work in a similar manner as its imagery reminds worshipers of important values and lessons.

View Beautiful Examples of Church Stained Glass

Church Stained Glass Restoration is the leading expert specializing in the creation of church stained glass windows. View our past projects to see examples of our work or contact us to learn more about our services.

Martin Faith is an expert in the areas of stained glass conservation, preservation, and history. For over thirty years, he has been working as a stained glass artisan and restoration expert. Martin grew up studying stained glass in Glasgow, where he began acquiring and salvaging beautiful collectibles made by Scottish artisans. In Glasgow, he learned the critical skills and traditional techniques required for creating the stunning stained glass windows produced by his company today in the United States, where he now resides with his wife and family. Over the years, Martin has consulted on numerous church stained glass restoration projects throughout the nation, ranging in size and complexity. Martin and his team have successfully repaired hundreds of religious stained glass windows, including those belonging to churches, cathedrals, temples, and synagogues as well as all religious denominations. He has overseen over 50,000 projects in total and is one of the most accomplished professionals in the industry.