If you ask the Recovery and Reuse Committee members to list their toughest decisions, the top of the list would be finding a new home for the pipe organ. But a close second place would be deciding what to do with our large inventory of stained glass. Click here and remind yourself of what is on our sanctuary, chapel, and Gathering Place walls.
It is highly likely that even longtime members have never even seen these two large sections of glass. From the interior of the church, they are blocked by the audio/video booth and they are not visible from the exterior. But they are located high above the front sanctuary doors. They may be the most colorful glass in our inventory.
Imagine you were standing in the choir loft of the sanctuary; you would spot the hidden sections of glass far away on the opposite side.
Let’s take a closer look, a view you would only see if you climbed to the top of the audio booth where those lights are mounted.
These two very high sections would require a high lift to get workers to the glass and even then the heavy sections are difficult to manage at such a height.
Look at the image below for perspective. The top arrow points to the section of glass most people never see. The bottom arrow points to the glass above the front doors that you know quite well.
The committee has consulted with two stained glass specialists, one from Clearwater and one from Colorado. Both have submitted estimates for removing all of our church’s stained glass that range from $89,000 to $78,000. After it is removed, if PCC decides to save all of the glass, we would have to store it somewhere. Likely a container crate. Needless to say it is a considerably more expensive proposition than they expected.
An alternative the committee must consider is to not save all of the glass, but save those sections above the door with Scripture and save the other pieces that were behind the choir loft that are easier to access. The bidders say that would cut the cost of removal by about half. In other words, with a price tag of $78,000-$89,000 and no clear plan for how the recovered glass might be incorporated into a new worship center, it is possible that some of this beautiful PCC Sanctuary glass may be lost to demolition.
Here are images of what the committee members consider to be essential to save.
The Recovery and Reuse Committee is exploring every possibility to recover as much of the glass as is affordable. The committee explored selling what glass PCC cannot reuse. The committee has learned there is not much of a market for the glass that would have to be removed, deconstructed from its frame, then cut into new pieces for a new design. Committee members tested that information by shopping around local architectural salvage and vintage stores. Here is one example of a beautiful 6-foot x 6-foot stained glass piece in a St. Pete consignment shop offered for $202, and it has been there a long time. (That one crack is the only one we saw.)
No final decision has been made, but the committee wanted to keep members informed of what may be a tough call ahead. The Recovery and Reuse Committee will make a recommendation to the One Board Church Council soon. The final decision rests with the church council.
If you have thoughts or ideas to share with the committee, drop a note to Chairman Joe Borgia.