In the heart of Yuma, Colorado, a devastating hailstorm left three historic churches with shattered stained glass windows — First Presbyterian Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and United Methodist Church. These treasured works of religious art, many over a century old, suffered severe damage, including cracked panels, missing pieces, and weakened lead cames.
Scottish Stained Glass was honored to be chosen for the restoration of all three churches. Our team documented the damage, collaborated with church leaders, and carefully restored each window using traditional techniques and modern conservation standards.
Project Background
The storm caused widespread destruction, breaking through protective coverings and leaving stained glass panels in urgent need of repair. Some churches had already been planning minor restoration, but the hailstorm accelerated the need for a full conservation effort.
Each church presented unique challenges:
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First Presbyterian Church suffered multiple shattered lancet windows.
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St. John’s Lutheran had intricate glasswork with rare color palettes now faded or lost.
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United Methodist Church had large panels with bowed or missing lead joints due to age and storm impact.
Community Impact
The churches of Yuma are more than places of worship — they’re cultural and historical landmarks for the town. Restoring these sacred windows not only preserved the beauty of each sanctuary but brought comfort and renewed pride to the congregations.
Church members expressed deep emotion when seeing their restored windows for the first time. One elder noted,
“We thought they were gone forever. Seeing them whole again brought tears to our eyes.”
A Testament of Craftsmanship and Hope
This project highlights the importance of preserving sacred art and heritage. It also shows how quickly natural disasters can threaten irreplaceable beauty — and how expert craftsmanship can restore it.
Bring new life and beauty to your church with Church Stained Glass Restoration from Scottish. Contact our office to speak to a designer about your project or to receive an estimate on our services.
