First Christian Church



Built in 1906, The First Christian Church in Waitsburg, Washington has many beautiful Stained Glass Windows. The three largest are highest up in the dome of the church. They were covered up when the church closed off the upper area with a suspended ceiling in the 1940's. One window was destroyed in a wind storm in the 1960's. A second window was in danger of falling apart and was removed and crated in its own frame and left above the ceiling. Only one window remained but it was out of sight from within.



In 2010, during a church renovation, the suspended ceiling was removed and the domed ceiling was in full view again. With the assistance of the church member renovators, we removed the remaining two windows. Each window was completely disassembled. The old lead came was replaced with new. Broken and cracked pieces were replaced. Years of grime and paint were cleaned off the remaining pieces then the entire windows were re-assembled.



A third window was created from scratch to match the originals. Fortunately the windows were constructed with Kokomo stained glass, a company in business for over 100 years and still making the same glass today.Each window contains 502 individual pieces, is 6 feet tall and 12 feet across.



All pieces are numbered and photographed.



Close up views of damage. Reinforcing support wires had separated from lead came.



Damaged pieces were roughly puttied to keep them from falling out..



Pattern rubbings were taken of each section as they were removed from the wooden frame. The lead came was cut and each piece was removed.






Set on a new pattern made from the rubbing of the original window, the pieces are reassembled one at a time with all new lead came. All broken pieces are replaced with new glass.



All the lead joints are soldered, then the entire window is flipped over and the joints are soldered again on the opposite side. Next putty is worked into the gaps between the lead came and the glass pieces. This makes the window weather proof and adds additional strength.



Whiting (calcium carbonate) is spread over the window and worked into the putty to help it harden. This cleans and buffs the window at the same time. Wire ties are soldered into joints where they line up with reinforcing rebar then the window section is secured back in its wooden frame.