East Window Restoration Project Begins This Month
Aug 4, 2026| by Meredith Turner
As you’re sitting in the Church, take a moment to look up beyond the altar and set your eyes on the East Window. For decades, this stunning work of sacred art—given to the parish as a thank offering by the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. Wharton Bartholow—has graced our worship space, depicting the story of the Incarnation through three panels: The Prophecy (left), The Fulfillment (center), and The Promise (right).
Stained-glass windows throughout our church play a powerful role in worship as they provide beauty while depicting biblical themes and stories. The East Window is now in need of restoration, and thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the Bartholow family once again, this preservation project will begin this month. By preserving these windows, we can artistically illuminate our worship spaces for years to come.
WHAT TO EXPECT
From Monday, August 17, through Saturday, September 26, a team of professionals will be on campus to protect the sanctuary, erect scaffolding, remove the stained glass, install a temporary decorative wall hanging, and then remove the interior scaffolding. Worship services will continue as usual throughout the project, though the front of the church will look a little different for a few weeks.
We have contracted with Stanton Studios of Waco, Texas, to remove, restore, and reinstall the stained glass. Stanton Studios is a family-owned company specializing in historic stained-glass restoration. Once removed, the window will be transported to their Waco studio, where each piece will be carefully restored before returning to the Church for reinstallation in the first quarter of 2027.
TIMELINE
| RESTORATION WORK | TIMELINE |
| Alden Organ Company performs protection work prior to scaffolding entering the church | August 17 - 22 |
| Dee Brown and MDM erect scaffolding | August 24 - September 4 |
| Stanton Studios removes the stained glass and installs plywood | September 8 - 19 |
| Wall hanging installed | September 21 |
| Remove interior scaffolding | September 22 - 26 |
| Reinstall scaffolding, repair the stonework, install the restored window, remove all scaffolding | First Quarter of 2027 |
CONCLUSION
The East Window has been an important part of worship at Incarnation for decades. While its temporary absence will be noticeable, this restoration will ensure it can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come. We are grateful to the Bartholow family for once again helping preserve this meaningful part of our church's worship space.