The "Dedicaton Of 1896 Stained Glass Window" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in the FAITH & VALUES section of my local newspaper about the installation of the 26th and final stained glass window in Bel Air, Maryland's Emmanuel Church.  

The church was built in 1896 and since there was no electricity at the time, the original windows of the church were made of yellow glass to bring in as much light as possible.  Once the church had electricity, churchgoers were invited to buy stained-glass windows to replace the original ones.  24 windows, all from the Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser Studio, originally based in Pennsylvania, were installed, beginning in the 1930s.  They all depicted Jesus and the things he did and the progression of His life.  The 24th and final window was finally finished and installed this past July and depicted the prophet Isaiah in the Temple of Jerusalem.  The gradual pace of the project was due to the fact that windows were installed at the rate at which people purchased them; whether they were dedicated to a loved one or to honor an event.  The average cost of a window is about $28,000.  The stained glass windows contribute to a "multisensory experience of worship."  The final window is dedicated to Dorothy and Robert Scharmann and their names appear on the base of the window.

Current rector, Rev. Canon Mark Gatza says it has been an incredible journey finishing the 24 windows.  Rev. Gatza said, "One of the gifts that we try to give back to Bel Air is a quiet, beautiful place in which to worship in the middle of town to sort of meditate, pray, and get away from the noise of the town.  Most of the windows were dedicated to a loved one or to honor an event.  The final window, as well as the previous three windows that were finished in 2019 will be consecrated in December by The Rev. Eugene Sutton, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.  The final photograph shows one of the stained glass windows of the church.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The Rev. Eugene Sutton