Stained Glass Restoration Tales:  Bethel A.M.E.

What Church Stained Glass Restoration Means To A Community

While it is true that Church stained glass restoration can sometimes be expensive, is so very important to the history of American churches of all denominations and likewise breathes new life into congregations.  Moreover, it brings total joy to parishioners. So for churches here in Austin an around the country, it is something for churches with stained glass windows to consider, whether those windows are small and minimalistic and or majestic and intricate.

A Stained Glass Restoration Rich With History

A  very strong example of how enriching stained glass restoration on a chapel can be is seen in the recent sanctuary restoration of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Huntington in NY.  This charming old church has the distinction of being Huntington, NY’s oldest African American church; something that carries with deep historical significance both for the area and for the African American culture within it.   This particular program cost right around $50,00 and took about two years to complete but to the parishioners, it carried deep meaning since they felt they were preserving more than just their windows but their culture while paying homage to those bygone parishioners that put so much into founding church and their original stained glass windows.

The Deterioration Of The Stained Glass Windows

As you can see from the pictures below the stained glass windows in the sanctuary at  Bethel A.M.E. were simple but gorgeous and definitely true to the style of the era– during the era in which they were installed–1924.  However, over the years the condition of these once flawless stained glass windows had deteriorated so in 2016, Rev Larry D Jennings decided it was time to restore them from their very poor condition; not only because the window really needed it but because he and the congregation saw the historical value and also thought it was a smart way to respect the original generosity of those who likely sacrifice for them to be installed.

Paying For The Church Stained Glass Restoration

Paying for stained glass restoration is often an expensive endeavor and finding funds a challenge–but well worth it.  Luckily for Bethel A.M.E. 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 costs that remained were covered by donations from the congregation itself. And the results could not be more breathtaking.

Stained Glass Restoration Guide And Pricing

If you have a church here in Austin that has windows you love but that are clearly aging and need repair, and you are considering having them restored as a way to breath new life into them and your congregation, we at Stained Glass Austin are able to help guide you through the process, costs and even fundraising for stained glass restoration as well.  Contact us today for more information and for a free consultation/stained glass inspection.