From a family of artists, Michele Justice began learning to work in stained glass in 2003, gifting small items to friends and congregation members. She felt called to bring her gift to the church and prepared to apply her experience to the unique project of creating and fabricating new stained glass windows. She invited her father, John Delagrange (b.1932-d.2021), and sister, Diana Thomas, both artists from Pennsylvania, to help with designs.
Once a window design is completed a full-size pattern is printed. The pattern is fitted to the window in place to ensure the pattern fills the window correctly and the new stained-glass window will work in its final location as each window in the 100-year-old Sanctuary is slightly ‘unique’ in size! All of the original windows were handcrafted on site during the 1909-1910 construction and may have been updated to the current casement size during window replacements in 1921 (after the destruction of the original windows) or during the subsequent installation of the red and yellow plastic panels of the 1970’s, that are now being replaced.
As each new window project takes shape, Michele teaches members of the congregation how to help with some of the work necessary to fabricate the pieces making up individual window panes. Over the years, many church members have been taught to cut, grind, and solder glass as they created the beautiful works of art that grace our Sanctuary space.
The most recent window was at the glass cutting and grinding stage in the Fall of 2022 and the final installation completed early summer 2023.
Work on the most recent window, “Children Are A Heritage From The Lord”, involved some of the youngest members of the congregation, what a legacy!
