Final stained glass panels being restored at St. Pat's

YOUNGSTOWN

The methodical process of restoring stained-glass windows involves removal of each section, getting a rubbing of the original, dismantling, releading, glazing, reinforcing, cleaning and reinstalling.

That effort has been ongoing since Jan. 2 at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., where seven stained-glass windows on the north side of the church are being restored. This project will complete restoration of all 72 stained-glass windows in the 90-year-old building.

The parish, which was established in 1911 and marked its centennial in 2011, first worshipped in a mission-style temporary church. The cornerstone of the current church, which was designated the pro-cathedral when St. Columba Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1954, was laid in 1924 and dedicated in 1926.

The 60-foot scaffolding took a week to erect. It’s enveloped in huge sheets of plastic to minimize dirt and debris in the sanctuary. The plastic also covers the end section of the pews, making them off limits.

While the restoration moves ahead, so does the church schedule of Masses, Lenten services and funerals. A sign of Lent is a cross of tree limbs draped in purple cloth, and long lengths of purple cloth also are suspended from the plastic sheeting.

Read more about the project, who's doing the work, and accommodations the church is making while it occur in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com..