In 1999, the Rev. Martha H. Giltinan and committee of lay members from St. Andrew's Church selected Stained Glass Resources, Inc. of Hampden, Massachusetts to design and execute our new stained glass windows. The committee wanted the windows to bring to mind the important events described in the Bible, to be "of our time" (not interpretations of historic windows), and to be colorful and uplifting.

After several site visits to observe the architectural style of the building, the existing window shapes, and the quality of light, Stained Glass Resources artist Scott McDaniel undertook to make a series of designs, known in the trade as "sketches". They were not doodles as we might think of them, but rather a one inch to one foot scale color renderings of all the proposed new windows. In the photograph at the left, Scott McDaniel is show working on the sketch for the Loaves and Fishes Window. As he developed the sketches, Scott considered from the outset not only the artistic elements of the design, but also the structural issues of the construction.

The linking of art and structure is typified by the leadlines of a stained glass window. Aesthetically, these leadlines can function like pencil lines in a drawing--describing forms, creating patterns, and dividing areas of color. At the same time, leadlines are functional, holding the pieces of glass together and providing the structural skeleton of a window. Each window is also subdivided into sections or panels, with horizontal support bars added to hold up the weight of the window and to prevent sagging and bending. Scott McDaniel"s challenge was to create designs that would also be structurally sound windows. Only then could work begin with glass and lead.

After approval by Rev. Martha and the committee, the sketches became the model from which the full size drawings or "cartoons" were made. From each cartoon a "glazing drawing" was made, upon which the windows were actually built. St. Andrew's existing windows were taken to Stained Glass Resources. The old plain yellow glass was removed so that new stained glass could be reinstalled in the wooden frames.

Each window was assembled on its glazing drawing, with each piece of glass fitted snugly into a specially made lead channel. After assembly, the window was checked for sizing and prepared for soldering. The solder, usually a 60/40 mixture of tin and lead, was then applied to each joint where the leads abutted. After the first side of the window was soldered, it was thoroughly cleaned to remove any residue. The soldering and cleaning process was then repeated on the backside.

The next step, which contributes greatly to the overall structural integrity of the window, was the cementing process. This process also waterproofs the window, preventing rainwater from passing through the leads. A cementing compound was brushed under the edge of all the lead to fill in any space between the lead and the glass. The front side of the window was cemented first and allowed to cure; then the backside was cemented.

At this point, the window was viewed in the daylight so that it could be properly inspected and again thoroughly cleaned. Wire ties were then soldered to the window to provide an attachment point for the window's horizontal support bars. The final step was to install the window in its wood frame, attach the window to its support bars, and affix the bars to the frame. The new window is intended to be maintenance-free for at least 100 years.

To see large images of the windows, you may either click on the word "Next" (above right) or click on the small images in the side frame (at left).

With a DSL connection, each window takes about 5 seconds to download.