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Project restores the glory of church treasures
The first seven of 72 stained-glass windows at St. Patrick Church have been redone. Others will follow.
YOUNGSTOWN — On bright and sunny days, the glory of God shines through the seven refurbished stained-glass windows at St. Patrick Church. Even clouds can hardly diminish the majesty of the windows.
Over time, soot from the mills, weather and everyday dirt and grime had built up on the windows, dimming the brilliant colors and dulling the design.
The church, which has 72 stained-glass windows, has undertaken a project to have all of them releaded and cleaned. The church contracted with Studio Arts and Glass in North Canton to handle the project. The effort, which will be completed in segments, is expensive, time-consuming and somewhat disruptive as scaffolding must be erected to reach the windows.
But the reclaimed beauty of the seven windows, which face Cleveland Street, reveal the merit of the project. They also serve as examples of what the other windows will look like.
“We started with the ones on the most weathered side of the building,” said the Rev. Edward Noga, pastor.
Father Noga estimated that the entire project would cost more than $300,000. It is being done as church looks to mark its 100th anniversary in 2011.
“Lucky for us, we had donations, bequests from deceased members, support from our ‘extended family,’ who don’t belong but support the building,” he said.
For the remaining windows, Father Noga said the church finance committee will be working out the details and there will probably be a capital campaign. The windows facing Summit Academy, the large window facing Oak Hill and other smaller windows still must be done.
Studio Arts and Glass and other companies submitted bids on the job. “They had the best procedure,” Father Noga said.
Father Noga explained that the family-owned company also allowed a few members of St. Patrick to visit its workplace, and watch while work was done on the windows. “It was fascinating,” Father Noga said. “The process is phenomenal and labor-intensive.”
Bill Crawford, a church member whose overall interest in history has made him church historian, explained that the design of the windows is traced on paper and then each piece of glass is removed, cleaned and redone. “It’s not lead being used but zinc. It’s stronger and won’t expand and contract. And if offers better support,” he said. The zinc provides the black border around the colored pieces of glass. “It makes a dramatic outline,” he said, noting re-assembling the windows is akin to piecing together a gigantic puzzle.
Crawford said the stained-glass windows were originally installed in the church in 1926. “Cracking, moisture and air have affected them,” he said.
In his research, Crawford discovered that the windows were made by Pike Stained Glass Studios in Rochester, N.Y., a family-run company for more than a century. Unfortunately, the company suffered a fire in the 1930s and records were destroyed.
But, Crawford said the current owner confirmed that the St. Patrick windows were from Pike. She identified the design as one of an award-winning iconographer Herman J. Butler, who had worked at Pike.
Crawford and Father Noga visited Pike. Crawford said the current owner was appreciative of the insight into history that the Youngstown visitors provided.