Blog

Stained Glass Restoration Tips for Churches

You may have noticed many beautiful churches across the country whose original stained glass windows have succumbed to age and the elements.  At the 80-100 year mark, even the best stained glass from the early 20th century begins to disintegrate. These fragile glass panels are too easily broken or cracked by harsh weather, frames bow over time, and the leading begins to sag noticeably.  But, as technology and expertise have advanced over time, we can now restore these crumbling monuments for another 150-200 years. This is no small feat, and we invite you to investigate how to move ahead.

What Will Your Church Stained Glass Restoration Cost?

Church stained glass restoration is delicate work, and can quickly run into the thousands.  But, the splendor restored to the church not only serves as a blessing to the congregants but preserves and draws attention to the rich historical context that surrounds that church.  When contemplating if a stained glass restoration project is right for your church, a thorough estimate is a necessity.

How Long WIll The Restoration Take?

We at Church Stained Glass Restoration understand very well the time and expertise required to completely and beautifully rejuvenate your stained glass treasures.  Please understand, that there’s no royal road to accomplish this! One should consider that the repairs will take time, so please think about how temporary windows that could be in place for several months might affect daily routines.  We just want to you to be fully prepared with a complete estimate that truthfully includes the “down-time” while your stained glass windows are restored.

How Will Your Church Raise Funds For Restoration?

If the windows are badly in need of repair, large, or many,  the costs for such a project can grow pretty rapidly. An open discussion with your congregation can be a fruitful place for fundraising ideas!  At Church Stained Glass Restoration, not only have we done impeccable work for many satisfied clients, but we have been fortunate enough to work with several churches on their own fundraising efforts.  We’d love to share our ideas with you!

The processing can seem daunting and technical, but please reach out to us with any questions big or small, at Church Stained Glass Restoration can help your church recapture its due glory!

Our Stained Glass Process from Church Stained Glass Restoration on Vimeo.

What Church Stained Glass Restoration Does For A Community

The fact of the matter is, Church stained glass restoration can be an expensive undergoing.  But it is very important to note that these types of revitalizations are critical to the history of American churches of any denomination and a way to breathe new life into congregations. They are, in addition, simply a joy to parishioners.  So, for churches across the country with history and love for their chapel, stained glass restoration should be a very real consideration.

A Stained Glass Restoration Rich In History And Love

A  perfect example of how amazing stained glass restoration is for churches and their members is can be seen by the sanctuary restoration of Bethel A.M.E. Church, located in Huntington in NY.  This charming historic church has the distinction of being Huntington, NY’s oldest African American church and that carries with it deep historical and a fair amount of sentimental significance too; both for the area and for the African American community.   The project cost about $50,000 and took two years to complete. However, as the parishioners discovered, it carried deep meaning as they ended up feeling like they had directly contributed to preserving more than just their windows but their culture too. In the end, they got the windows they cherished back into stunning shape while at the same time paying homage to bygone parishioners who had put so much into founding the church and installing the original stained glass windows.

The Deterioration Of The Stained Glass Windows And What To Do

As you can see from the pictures, the stained glass windows in the sanctuary at  Bethel A.M.E. were simple but lovely. They are prime examples of the 1920s era, as they were constructed in 1924. Over the years the condition of the stained glass windows had deteriorated to the point that in  2016, Rev Larry D Jennings made a decision to rescue them from their broken down state. He did this not only because the window really needed it but because he and his church body understood the history, culture and artistic value of them.   It was also, as they saw it, a good way to respect the church members of the past who likely sacrifice for them to be installed.

How To Pay For The Church Stained Glass Restoration

Stained glass restoration can be an expensive undertaking, as well as finding funds a challenge.  But as Bethel A.M.E discovered–very much not impossible and definitely well worth it. In their case, a town historian, Robert Hughes found grants from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for $20,000, them the Sacred Sites program of the New York Landmarks Conservancy for $10,000; and finally The Gerry Charitable Trust for $5,000.  The rest of the costs were covered by the congregation members donating money themselves and results are clearly inspiring.

Stained Glass Restoration Guide And Pricing

If you have a church anywhere across the USA with old stained glass windows that your church members just love, perhaps it is time to consider having them restored as a way to breath new life into them and your congregation.  Here at Church Stained Glass Restoration, we work on churches all across the country and we will guide you through the process, costs, and even fundraising too. Contact us today for more information and for a free consultation/stained glass inspection.