DELAND, Fla. – Work is happening this week to restore historic stained glass windows at DeLand’s oldest church.
According to church leaders, a recent inspection at First Church DeLand, originally built in 1883, found the integrity of many windows at risk and needing immediate repairs.
Restoration work was critical for the church’s large window behind the pulpit, which depicts the Ascension of Jesus with an angel on each side.
The piece was created in 1920 by artist Joseph Llorens, who made stained glass for churches and other buildings across the United States.
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Bob Froyen, who is now the owner of Llorens Stained Glass Studios, was brought in to preserve and restore the artistic work.
“It’s not only historic, it is personally gratifying,” Froyen said. “You can feel as though you’re part of it and to be able to do the kid gloves, if you will. To treat it and restore it the same way they would have done it with the same love and the same technique done 100 years ago.”
Froyen repaired rotted wood in the window frame, added reinforcement bars for strength, and completed work to brighten the 104-year-old stained glass.
Joseph Lorens designed The Ascension window and, especially rare, the artist signed the work.
“Those were so special to them, they put their name on it,” Froyen said. “You can tell it meant a lot to him. It meant a great deal to him.”
The congregation at First Church DeLand raised the initial funding to begin the work.
Lead Pastor Mark Bitner said he told the congregation about the need for repairs on Palm Sunday and within days $39,000 was donated to the project.
“You see the sun shining in and it just illuminates this window and shares the beauty and the majesty and really paints that picture,” Bitner said.
According to Bitner, $94,500 is still needed to restore all 53 stained-glass windows.
The church has launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for the restoration and plans to apply for a state historical grant.
For details on how to help save the stained glass works, visit the church’s website.
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