New Views

The brand new St. Paul the Apostle Church is nearing completion, advancing in age and taking on a new look in its worship area – by design.

Work is in progress to install stained glass windows from three Cleveland churches, and as the installation moves forward, the beautifully designed worship area – with muted color Jerusalem stone used in the floors, lower walls and the altar throughout – will have an even more historic and colorful appearance.

The color change will proceed as gradual installation of 164 stained glass windows continues. All but 20 of these will be refurbished and custom-designed windows that have been removed from three closed churches in the Cleveland area. The others will be constructed of more modern materials, though they are designed to look older.

The Cleveland diocese has combined 50 of its 300 parishes in recent years, and has stored away windows and other artifacts from the churches. The diocese had designated Henninger’s, a Cleveland religious goods supplier, as its agent to dis- pose of remnants from the churches, and St. Paul’s moved to secure some.

The diocese and Henninger’s “wanted to be sure they got a good home, and we’re one of those good homes,” says the Rev. Charles Klinger (“Father Charlie”), St. Paul’s pastor. “We got lucky.”

When the newest St. Paul’s church was designed to serve the largest parish in the 26-county Columbus Diocese, architects didn’t know of the Cleveland cache of windows that wouldn’t fit openings they had planned. When they learned of them, “we couldn’t redesign the church,” says church Development Director Helmut Naunheimer.

Using the windows presented some issues beyond the fact they wouldn’t fit openings in the new church. And the stained glass designs were somewhat different from those envisioned by St. Paul’s, though, of course, all have appropriate religious depictions.

As part of process, St. Paul’s selected 144 windows that could be used after being refurbished, resized and rebuilt.

Henninger’s takes them apart, re-leads them and, as part of the process, adds a stained glass border that’s matched in all windows going into St. Paul’s, though the original picture or art is different. In various designs, some depict saints, some icons, and all remain unchanged. But the common borders create a design continuity unique to St. Paul’s, Naunheimer says.

The installation schedule is the creature of an ongoing fundraising effort. Most of the smaller two-foot round or rose windows are done. They cost $1,800 each.

As sizes increase, both for circular and rectangular windows, the price goes up. The largest are 18 feet tall and cost $40,000 each. One of those, depicting the nativity, has been installed on the side of the worship area where New Testament windows are being added. Old Testament windows are going on the opposite side of the area that’s shaped like the cross.

A total of 46 were to have been installed by late October. Tentatively, 10 to 15 will be added each quarter as donations are received, Naunheimer says. As the brightly colored windows are added, the church ambience will gradually change from the open look that comes with the current clear, double-paned glass. The stained glass frames are placed on the inside so the clear windows remain as insulation and protection. says parishioners are enjoying the brightly colored windows that are gradually replacing the church’s clear windows.

The gradual transition “allows our parishioners to appreciate and enjoy it,” Klinger says.

As the pair stand in the worship area, which will seat 4,400, explaining the windows and other architectural and design features, a handful of visitors wander through. “We’re always open and welcome visitors,” Klinger says, noting that a tour bus recently stopped.

The church plans an open house from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 6 for visitors to tour the church, which is the third to stand on the South State Street site in Westerville.

Duane St. Clair is a contributing editor. Feedback and comments welcome at gbishop@pubgroupltd.com.

The Rev.