From the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin:
Congregation's helping hands augment artistry at church
Projects bring out talents in stained glass
January 21, 2009
St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Chenango Bridge is an unpretentious edifice, a barebones sort of building that suits its congregation just fine.
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When an artsy altar was installed a few years ago - a wooden affair shaped like a boat with images of Jesus and the disciples carved into it- the placid waters of the congregation saw a few tumultuous waves.
They calmed again, though, and now defenders of the one-of-a-kind altar, which was made by a nun in Windsor, would never opt for a merely geometric replacement, says Pastor Mark Giroux.
The 50-plus-year-old church has seen other changes, too, and each of those renovations has also been touched by hands of love. The ample balcony and other professional work was tenderly finished by congregants, he explains.
Such are the people of St. Mark's.
The windows of the church are noteworthy only in their plainness - or at least that was true until last year.
Costs to make and install stained-glass windows would run to the tens of thousands, and quite possibly more. Thinking aloud, Pastor Mark had said to a few in the church, "Maybe we could make them ourselves."
With no more prompting than that, over the ensuing months a handful of church members became stained-glass artisans of high caliber.
They took classes to learn the specialized craft and pretty soon stained-glass stars started popping up around the church, Pastor Mark explains. Then came other, increasingly elaborate projects until, under the guidance of Dave Gridley of Chenango Forks, the newly created guild and its pastor conceived a series of colored windows that would represent the seasons - Advent, Epiphany/Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost - of the Episcopal year. Another represented Creation and one more, in a bisected window at the back, will depict the symbol of St. Mark, a lion.
"None of us, except Dave, had ever done any stained glass before," says Carole Petley of Chenango Bridge.
Working in a building next to the church, the laborers met Monday afternoons, drawing designs to fill the round medallions of color in the windows. One by one, the artisans each brought the designs to life.
"We all work on the outside parts together because it's easier to do with a group," Carole explains, noting that each of them took responsibility for the creation of the individual circles. She and Dave worked on the Christmas window's medallions, Paula Giroux of Castle Creek and Karen Van Kleek of Chenango Bridge did the Creation medallions, and Advent was the work of Lillian Ruf and Claire Ernstrom, both of Chenango Bridge. The goal is to install each window within its appropriate season. Advent and Epiphany/Christmas met that deadline, and Creation, too, is in place.
The stained-glass windows, breathtaking in their own right, are further enhanced by the oakwork of Andy Pierce of Whitney Point, assisted by Frank Ruf of Chenango Bridge.
Asked if the project suffered any catastrophes, the room of workers bursts into laughter.
Yes, there were some.
"And you all bled, but nobody badly," Pastor Mark reminds them.
But they didn't set the workshop on fire - although there's a fire extinguisher in the corner, just in case - and all accidents and injuries were, in fact, minor.
The accomplishment, however, is huge.
Little St. Mark's may not be a cathedral, but its windows emanate beauty. And as with so many other aspects of the church, they're special because they came through hands of love.
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