Preserving the Light

Protecting Our Historic Stained Glass

If you’ve driven past the Cummings Chapel on Duval Street during the week, you may have noticed ladders and crews hard at work on the windows. What they’re doing is one of the most important preservation projects our Cathedral has undertaken in recent years.

Over the next several months, the protective Lexan panels covering every stained glass window at St. John’s Cathedral will be replaced. The project will enhance the appearance of the windows and help protect and preserve them for years to come.

Our stained glass windows are far more than beautiful decorations. They tell the story of God’s saving work. The windows in the Nave trace the life of Christ, from the Nativity and Baptism through the Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension. Others depict the ministry of the saints. Some of our oldest windows, like the Tiffany Good Shepherd, have watched over worshippers for more than a century, serving as visual sermons that invite prayer, reflection, and wonder.

The exterior Lexan panel acts as a protective shield, guarding these historic windows from Florida’s harsh sun, wind, driving rain, and storm debris. Like any material exposed to the elements year after year, the Lexan eventually weathers, becoming less effective at protecting the delicate glass beneath it. Replacing these panels is an essential investment in preserving the craftsmanship and artistry that make our Cathedral unique.

~Nancy Purcell, director of communications and marketing