AboutValerie McCartney Expertise Visit our web site at www.churchwindows.net. I can answer questions about restoration and repair of stained glass windows and their surrounds. I can, also, answer technical questions regarding matching old glass, glass painting (kiln-fired), waterproofing panels (cementing), re-inforcing, removal, and installation. I can not answer questions on glass casting, Dalle de Verre, or glass blowing.
Experience
Past/Present partial client list Aboite Baptist Church, Ft. Wayne, IN; Immaculate Conception Church, Three Rivers, MI; St. Monica Church, Kalamazoo, MI; St. Charles Catholic Church, Coldwater, MI; St. Clair Catholic Church, Centreville, MI; St. Mary's Church, West Phalia, MI; Pleasant View Church of Christ, Angola, IN; St. Paul United Church of Christ, LaPorte, IN; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Olivet College, Olivet, MI; First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Kalamazoo, MI; Trinity Lutheran Church, Culver, IN; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Breman, IN; Grace Lutheran Church, Germfaske, MI; St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Rogers City, MI; United Methodist Church, Bellevue, MI; Augusta Fellowship United Methodist Church, Augusta, MI; United Methodist Church, Galena, IL; Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI; University United Methodist Church, Lansing, MI; Believer's Bible Fellowship Church, Churubusco, IN; St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church, Battle Creek, MI; First Presbyterian Church, Allegan, MI; First Reformed Church, Grand Haven, MI; Bellmor House, Grosse Pointe, MI; Milwood Middle School, Kalamazoo, MI;
Experience in the area I have owned and operated Full Spectrum Stained Glass, Inc. since 1988. (www.churchwindows.net)
Organizations The Stained Glass Association of America, The American Glass Guild, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan
Question Our congregation has chosen (sadly, in my opinion)to built a new church instead of renovating our existing one, and a group of us is trying to determine if we can afford to remove the stained glass windows and place them into the new building. We have 10 gothic windows that are approximately 8 feet tall by two to two and a half feet wide, plus one large rectangular stained glass window above the entry door. Six of the gothic windows are made in two panels (so that the windows can be opened) but the rest of them are not. The glass itself looks to be in good shape (not cracked, etc.) but I don't know about the leading itself. All of the windows date from around 1900 and are in wooden frames (the church is made of wood, but stucco has been placed over the siding). We aren't sure how to remove them, or what precautions to take when doing so. Also, how should we crate them after they are removed? Do they need to be stored in any special type of environment? We are located in a very small town in the upper peninsula of Michigan and have no one available locally with the expertise to do this type of work, so some of the men from the congregation want to try to do this on their own. Plus we are a small congregation, and finances are limited. I just hate to see these beautiful windows damaged during removal or, even worse, left behind. I can send photos if you'd like to see them. Thank you for your help!
Answer Dear Kathy,
I understand your feeling of loss. Growing up in a small rural area, I have seen too many stained glass windows left behind.
If you would, please e-mail me directly ( fssgi@aol.com ) and send some photos. It will be easier to discuss options that way.
