THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250518
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LINDA McNATT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
For the first time in more than a century, unfiltered sunlight is pouring into the peaceful sanctuary of Historic St. Luke's Church.
Since 1890, the arched window openings along the side walls of the old church have been covered by stained glass placed there by Victorian-era members of the congregation in honor or in memory of loved ones.
But on Wednesday, two windows, each with three-sections, stained glass windows were removed, packed securely on a truck and transported to the Shenandoah Studios of Stained Glass in Front Royal.
``I may get in my car and tailgate them all the way there,'' said church curator Dick Austin, rolling his eyes and wiping sweat from his brow.
Like many stained glass windows in old churches, these are ``priceless,'' according to Todd Selke, one of Shenandoah Studio's workers.
``They're antiques, that's for sure,'' said Selke, carefully chipping caulking.
These windows are special, too, because they are part of the oldest existing church of English architecture in America, a national shrine attracting more than 18,000 visitors a year to Smithfield.
Church officials have generally assumed the windows were crafted by Tiffany Studios of New York City, the largest and most popular stained glass makers of the period, Austin said.
But now, the windows may have added another element of mystery to the church built by English colonists in 1632. They are unsigned and simple in design, Selke said.
``Tiffany did introduce the opalescent glass,'' he said, pointing to one section of a window he was removing. ``Before that, glass makers just used cathedral glass.''
Two by two, the windows will be removed and restored. Selke said artisans at his company's studios will photograph the windows, place them on a light table and make an impression that later will be used for reconstruction.
Each piece will be hand cleaned and polished after the lead is removed; broken pieces will be cemented. The process for two windows the size of those removed from St. Luke's takes about six weeks, said Selke, who has 18 years experience in the business.
``We just came back from St. Simon's Island,'' he said. ``We were working on a church there. And we're working on three churches in Oklahoma City that were damaged in the bombing. The first thing they thought about was the stained glass windows. But this is definitely the oldest structure I've ever worked on.''
The $50,000 project, funded by St. Luke's Church Foundation Inc., for 11 windows in the side walls and bell tower of the church will take more than a year to complete. Workers were expected to start on the north side of the church, but Austin insisted they start on the south side. The first window on the north is dedicated by what in 1890 was a fledgling Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities in memory of Pocahontas, Rebecca, ``the first convert of Virginia to the gospel.''
``I wanted that one to stay in during tourist season,'' Austin said. ``A lot of people come to the church looking for that window.''
Lead in the connecting grooves between pieces of glass deteriorates over the years, causing the windows to bow. Selke said restoration is usually recommended every 20 to 25 years. ``And we just did it 105 years ago,'' Austin said. ``I wanted to see it this time, to watch the process. I know I'll never see it again.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II/
Todd Selke, an employee of the Shenandoah Studios of Stained Glass
in Front Royal, removed a stained glass window at the Historic St.
Luke's Church in Smithfield on Wednesday. The windows, he said, are
``priceless.''
by CNB