Stained glass windows, a centuries-old fixture in churches around the world, are regaining popularity amid more contemporary church structures, according to three experts in stained glass windows.
“A lot of churches are being built today that do not want to look like a church, so they definitely are not going to use stained glass windows,” acknowledged Terry Barnes, owner of Leeds Stained Glass in Pell City, Alabama.
Norman Yates, owner of Superior Church Furnishings in East Dublin, Georgia, which is a direct representative of Laws Stained Glass Studios in Statesville, North Carolina, agreed. “Many churches have changed their focus on worship,” Yates noted. “Many churches are contemporary now.
“However, we still get requests for stained glass designs that can be installed in light boxes and either recessed into walls or hung on a wall in any kind of building or setting. Many pictorial windows such as the Garden of Gethsemane or the Good Shepherd or a single stained glass cross are still being used in many of the contemporary settings. These pictorials tell the story of Christ and are still being used,” he said.
‘As busy as I’ve ever been’
“I am as busy as I’ve ever been and we’ve always been busy,” said Barnes, who has been in the business for 48 years. “There are still a lot of churches being built, and especially our rural existing churches that still love stained glass windows (use our business).”
One of the primary reasons stained glass windows are still popular today is that they tell the gospel story, observed Andrew Young, owner of Pearl River Glass Studio in Jackson, Mississippi.
Generally, stained glass windows tell the story of Christ from His birth through His ascension along with other aspects of His ministry such as His baptism and miracles, Young said.
“The nice thing about stained glass windows in a church is that you can walk into a church building any time of the day — even when there is not a church service going on — and you see imagery that tells the gospel story,” Young observed.
It’s a permanent way to educate and to bring the story of the gospel to life, he added.
Young said the desire to have beautiful houses of worship can be traced back to the Old Testament when Solomon was building the temple. He noted how they used lamps and fixtures.
“The Church has always had as part of its missions to embellish the worship spaces for the Church.”
Enhancing the worship experience
Young noted that he designs stained glass to “create an atmosphere that enhances the worship experience.”
Barnes observed that “people love their churches, and they love them to be pretty.”
He added that people also want to honor the people they love. Many people donate windows to their churches in memory of their parents, he said.
“Almost every window that we do is donated and they love doing it.”
Yates said his windows include a memorial plate on the base that can be used as a memorial or to add a Scripture reference that relates to the scene on the window. When churches use that option, they are able to tell the entire story of Christ, he said.
In addition, should a church have to relocate, they can take their stained glass windows to the new building and maintain some of their history.
“We do it all the time,” Barnes said.
Maintaining stained glass
An increasing part of the stained glass window business has become restoration, the three experts said.
Barnes observed that other than keeping windows protected from outside elements and brushing them down occasionally, there is really no maintenance until the windows are between 75 and 100 years old.
He said a major sign that windows are deteriorating are if the windows begin to sag or bow.
“You start seeing cracks in the lead and light coming in.”
Yates agreed and said that when the panes start to sag, the lead joints start to pull loose.
“When that happens, the window needs to be reworked,” he said. The windows are taken to the factory where they are restored to their original condition and then returned to the church, he added.
Young observed that in the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were a lot of stained glass windows placed in churches, and they are now beginning to need major attention.
“We are doing a lot of that where we’re restoring stained glass windows or we do repairs. Things happen and windows get damaged. We are now working with two different churches that had their stained glass windows damaged during tornadoes in Mississippi,” he said.
He noted his company now installs safety glass on the outside of stained glass windows to protect them from hail and wind damage.
Young also suggests that churches have someone examine their stained glass at least every 20 to 25 years.
“It’s like maintaining your car. You change the oil. If you don’t change the oil, then you’re going to end up with some real mechanical problems.”
The same maintenance principle applies to stained glass windows, he noted. Checking windows every couple of decades can detect any potential problems so they can be repaired sooner rather than later, he said.
Considering stained glass?
Is your church considering replacing existing windows with stained glass or building a new sanctuary that would include stained glass windows?
If so, churches should contact a company that specializes in stained glass windows in churches, said Terry Barnes, owner of Leeds Stained Glass in Pell City, Alabama. Designing and installing stained glass windows for churches is more involved than it is for a business or home, he added.
After selecting a company, the church should schedule an appointment for a representative to come to the church and meet with a committee or leadership team to discuss their needs, options to consider and pricing, Barnes said.
“Most churches really do not know what they want when the process begins,” he said.
After the initial meeting the church will decide whether to continue with that company or explore other options, Barnes added.
Once the decision has been made to proceed, the company’s representative will meet with the committee or leadership team again to discuss window design and colors, Barnes said.
Once the design and colors have been determined, it generally takes four to six months to construct and install the windows, he added.
